Planning Bill

Perhaps I may develop my argument, because the second part was essentially about the extension of democracy that we want to see and why that is compatible with what we are proposing. I rather jumped into my argument back to front; I should start with the story and then try to answer the questions. I remind noble Lords that in the sub-national review published last year we announced our intention, subject to consultation, to replace regional economic and regional spatial strategies with a single regional strategy and to transfer the regional planning functions of the assemblies—which of course are voluntary bodies; there was no question of our abolishing them—to regional development agencies following appropriate legislation. We have consulted on those proposals. There is widespread support for the principle of a single regional strategy, which would obviously make sense. However, there have been concerns about how best to secure this. Throughout this process, our intention has been to create a foundation for the future which strengthens partnership working between regional agencies and local authorities. We are carefully considering our response to the consultation to ensure that we obtain the best mechanism for taking the regional strategy forward. I say to my noble friend Lord Judd that there is no loss of democracy here. We are extremely keen to ensure that local authorities play the fullest possible part and that the balance of concerns meets both economic and social imperatives, which is what planning is about. Clause 171 was drafted simply to enable the regional assembly to delegate regional planning functions to the regional development agency if—but only if—both parties agree. The clause is effective, therefore, only where the regional assembly chooses to use it and the RDA agrees. This provision is important because we simply want to facilitate closer working between regional assemblies and RDAs. I have reassured my noble friend in writing but shall I do so again now. Clause 171 only enables delegation. It does not bring a transfer of function. As he will see, under subsection (7) the regional planning board can take back its delegated powers at any time. The powers will not be permanently transferred but facilitate something that we think is extremely important.