HL Deb 24 July 2000 vol 616 cc14-5

1 Clause 2, page 2, line 8, leave out from ("to") to end of line 10 and insert ("their strategy under section 4")

2 Clause 4, page 3, line 6, leave out ("is to have power to") and insert ("must")

3 Page 3, line 6, after ("strategy") insert ("(referred to in this section as a community strategy)")

4 Page 3, line 8, at end insert ("and contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom.

() A local authority may from time to time modify their community strategy.")

5 Page 3, line 9, leave out ("any strategy under this section") and insert ("or modifying their community strategy")

6 Page 3, line 10, leave out ("may consult or") and insert ("must consult and")

7 Page 3, line 16, at end insert —

("() In its application to Wales, this section has effect as if for any reference to the Secretary of State there were substituted a reference to the National Assembly for Wales.")

Lord Whitty

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 1 to 7.

These amendments relate to matters that we discussed in some detail when the Bill was first considered by this House. After considering carefully the views expressed by your Lordships and others, the Government concluded that there should be a requirement on local authorities to have regard to the community strategy when exercising the well-being power. Amendment No. 1 introduces that requirement.

Amendment No. 2 would place authorities under a duty to prepare community strategies. We agree with the arguments that such a duty provides the best way to encourage councils to tackle local problems in a more effective way. We have added to that through Amendment No. 4, so that community strategies will contribute at the local level to achieving sustainable development in the UK.

Amendment No. 6 introduces a requirement for local authorities to consult and seek the participation of such persons as they consider appropriate when preparing a community strategy.

Amendment No. 7 makes it clear that the provision of guidance on community strategies in Wales will be a matter for the National Assembly, not the Secretary of State.

I believe that these amendments reflect concerns expressed in this place and elsewhere at earlier stages. I therefore commend the amendments to the House. I hope that noble Lords will also support the other amendments in the group.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendments Nos. 1 to 7.—(Lord Whitty.)

Baroness Hamwee

My Lords, we welcome the inclusion of the requirement that the strategy should contribute to sustainable development and to the duty (rather than merely providing a power) on local authorities to prepare an over-arching strategy for well-being and sustainable development.

The Minister will not be surprised that I ask whether he can give any even slightly warm words of reassurance to local authorities in regard to the funding that they may look for in exercising this important new duty. I hope that the Secretary of State will use the opportunity given to him in the Bill to lift the obligation to undertake many other strategies, and that the new strategy will be in its place. Even so, this will be quite an exercise for local authorities. It is one which many will be enthusiastic to undertake; nevertheless, one should not ignore the costs that will be incurred.

Lord Whitty

My Lords, the noble Baroness will recognise that the increase in available resources indicated by my right honourable friend the Chancellor last week will provide significant sums to local authorities. It is up to local authorities in the main to decide how they apply those funds, within the guidance given by legislation and by the Government. I should therefore expect resources to be adequate for them to be able to carry out the duty laid down in these clauses.

On Question, Motion agreed to.