Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

There is a temptation, which I shall certainly resist, of having the debate we had when we opened the Committee stage today. This is very much a discussion about the way in which we see leadership operating and the way we want to enable it. Amendments Nos. 127, 128A and 132 to 134 have all the effect of enabling any council, regardless of size or type, to operate any form of governance arrangements they see fit. I am slightly puzzled by the suggestion that somehow we are imposing uniform options on councils. There are three models but within the leader and cabinet models, for example, there are different ways of making this work. Many councils adopt leader and cabinet models now and they have not sacrificed their individuality or their local characteristics. While I understand what noble Lords are saying—clearly it is one of this country’s great strengths that it is so diverse—we must be careful not to exaggerate that or to exaggerate the impact this measure will have. For the many reasons I have explained at length today, I cannot succumb to thinking that every local authority should have whatever internal governance arrangements that it considers appropriate. The time has come for a strategy to support and enable better leadership, and that is what the White Paper did and what the Bill does. That is supported by evidence. It is worth reflecting that what we are doing is not new. We are building on the 2000 Act, which was the first attempt to separate the executive role—the visible councillor in the executive position—from the back-bench councillor. It is working; fewer people want to go back to the committee system. The enhanced committee system seems to operate in smaller local authorities, usually by the addition of an overview and scrutiny committee that enhances its functions. However, it is not easy to replicate that in a larger council with any guarantee of success. Although there is resistance to change, and there are arguments for proceeding slowly, this is the right way to go forward at this point in the evolution of local government. It is supported by all the work Michael Lyons did over the past 18 months. As discussed on the previous amendment, we have allowed for additional executive models under Clause 11(5) and (6). I understand the arguments that are being made by the Opposition, but I am afraid I cannot accept the amendment.