Northern Way Initiative: Consultation (Hansard, 11 November 2004)

§ Lord Bassam of Brighton
My Lords, significant consultation went into the preparation of the report Moving Forward: the Northern Way. That included local authority representation on the independently chaired steering group that prepared the report; three regional stakeholder events in June; tailored presentations to individual councils and committees as requested; and involvement on city-region diagnostics and other work programmes. Following the launch there was a mailing to all local authority chief executives and leaders. I understand that three more regional stakeholder events are planned.

§ Lord Greaves
My Lords, this is a very important plan. It covers almost everything to do with planning in the region. Yet, all the consultation with local authorities has been top down. They are being told what to do by John Prescott and his team; they are not being involved and asked what they think. The Minister referred to moving forward the Northern Way initiative. At the end of the report there is a list of new contracts, together with the lead agencies. Is he aware that the lead agencies involved consist of: regional development agencies—20; government departments—17; regional quangos and boards—12; unelected regional assemblies—10; Government Offices in the Regions—five; partners or whatever they are—two; and elected local authorities—zero. Is that a satisfactory way to try and deliver such an important planners' list when it is the local authorities which possess the powers and will have to carry out the initiative?

§ Lord Bassam of Brighton
My Lords, I do not accept the noble Lord's premise that this is a top-down approach. Far from it; I think that the Northern Way initiative symbolises involvement at a very good level in terms of civic participation. Perhaps the noble Lord might like to reflect on the fact that of the 17 members 1012 of the Northern Way steering group, six are drawn from local authorities. The process of involvement, of which I gave an outline, actually belies the fact that there is much more local involvement in the advisory and steering groups which have come together to supply a lot of the information and background to the production of this important report.

§ Baroness Byford
My Lords, were those six people on that particular group elected as representatives of local authorities, or did they happen to be local authority councillors and there by chance? The Minister has not actually answered the question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Greaves.

§ Lord Bassam of Brighton
My Lords, I understand that there was a nomination process. I think that three of those representatives were drawn from the RDAs and the other three were put there by virtue of their involvement in local authorities. They include eminent local authority leaders like Richard Leese, who I am sure will offer the sort of distinguished guidance and leadership which is required in taking forward the important work that the Northern Way represents.

§ Baroness Hamwee
My Lords, can the Minister translate the statement in the document that, The north is at the crossroads of nationally strategic east-west and north-south transport corridors"? On that basis, where is the Midlands?
To follow my noble friend's point, because I believe I can ask a second question, the noble Lord mentioned local authorities, I think in the context of partnership. Can he explain to the House how the document can advocate culture as a mechanism for development without any reference to Liverpool and its forthcoming status as the capital of culture?

§ Lord Bassam of Brighton
My Lords, I am sure that Liverpool figures greatly in the minds of those who are involved in the Northern Way steering group. I think that the Liverpool initiative is a great one. I must say that I feel slightly bitter about it because Brighton was left out—but there we go.
With regard to the noble Baroness's first point, of course the Midlands is a critical part of the United Kingdom because of where it is geographically in terms of transport and communication. We all accept that. Sometimes the jargon in reports gets the better of us.

§ Lord Shutt of Greetland
My Lords, bearing in mind the disappointment for some of us about the devolution referendum in the north-east, surely there is now a deficit as far as concerns democracy in the regions. Is this not an opportunity for these regional bodies to become democratic and for a real partnership between central government and local government to fill that democratic deficit at regional level—for example, in the appointment of members of RDAs and all these other regional quangos?

§ Lord Bassam of Brighton
My Lords, there is a well tried and tested method for appointment to these bodies. Obviously, there is something of a democratic deficit. That we all understand; and we understand that people have made and expressed their view very clearly in the north-east. It is important that those who are involved in local government should play an important part and role in working with groups like the Northern Way as part of a partnership to ensure that their locality, its views, its needs and its wants are accurately reflected in the works of such important groups.

§ Lord Greaves
My Lords, such is the concern of many of us that what the Minister is saying is actually not true in terms of consultation with local authorities, that on behalf of Liberal Democrat council leaders in the north of England, Councillor Richard Kemp, my colleague on Liverpool City Council, found it necessary to write to the Deputy Prime Minister about six or seven weeks ago. Will the Minister inquire why he has not yet had a reply?

§ Lord Bassam of Brighton
My Lords, I shall certainly inquire why the noble Lord's colleague has not had a reply. Obviously, it is important that he receives a reply. However, I would say to the noble Lord that it is important that those in leading positions in local government engage with this process, play a part and demonstrate and show some leadership, so that the prosperity gap in the northern regions can begin to be bridged.