Member News
My Government will bring forward legislation to promote local economic development and to create greater opportunities for community and individual involvement in local decision-making.
Queen's speech 2008, December 3 2008
Measures allowing citizens greater influence over local decision making, making public services more transparent and accountable, will be brought forward as part of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act.
The Act is the keystone of a wider programme to put people at the heart of decisions affecting their lives at a local level. It will ensure that those who understand these issues best will be able to take decisions affecting the local economy.
A more level playing field for small, local construction business in construction contracts will also be ensured as part of the Act.
The legislation underpins the policies announced in the recent white paper “Communities in control: real people, real power” and takes forward the proposals set out in the government review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR).
To ensure the views of tenants are taken into account on housing issues, the Act will establish a National Tenant Voice. A proposal for which was included in a Communities and Local Government consultation in June 2007 “Tenant empowerment”.
The Audit Commission and the Auditor General for Wales will also be given new powers to appoint auditors to report public interest.
The Bill will make the Boundary Committee for England an independent body from the Electoral Commission.
House of Lords
First reading: December 4 2008 [HL Bill 2]
Second reading: December 17 2008
Grand committee:
- 1st sitting: January 19 2009
- 2nd sitting: January 21 2009
- 3rd sitting: January 26 2009
- 4th sitting: January 28 2009
- 5th sitting: February 3 2009
- 6th sitting: February 9 2009
- 7th sitting: February 24 2009
- 8th sitting: March 3 2009
- Bill as amended: [HL Bill 27]
- 1st day: March 17 2009
- 2nd day: March 23 2009
- 3rd day: April 1 2009
- 4th day: April 22 2009
- Bill amended on report: [HL Bill 40]
Third reading: April 29 2009
House of Lords
First reading: May 1 2009 [HC Bill 93]
Second reading: June 1 2009
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill Committee:
- 1st sitting: June 9 2009 (am)
- 2nd sitting: June 9 2009 (pm)
- 3rd sitting: June 11 2009 (am)
- 4th sitting: June 11 2009 (pm)
- 5th sitting: June 16 2009 (am)
- 6th sitting: June 16 2009 (pm)
- 7th sitting: June 18 2009 (am)
- 8th sitting: June 18 2009 (pm)
Report stage: October 13 2009
Third reading: October 13 2009
Consideration of Commons amendments: [HL Bill 71]
Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act
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