Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

I have one amendment in the group. It would remove Clause 2(2)(e), which includes in the list of connected bodies, "““the … governing body of a further education institution””." I have tabled the amendment after being approached by the Association of Colleges, which has expressed its concern about this provision. I share that concern, but I want to raise a wider point, because it could apply to any of the bodies listed in this clause that are not controlled by the local authority. Further education colleges were detached from local authority control by the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, which also established college governing bodies. In the past 15 years, colleges have worked as independent, autonomous, incorporated institutions. I am sure that the noble Baroness will agree that self-governance has worked for these colleges and should be preserved. Part of this autonomy means that colleges are themselves responsible for selecting and appointing new governors to existing governing bodies, which always include representatives from the local community, local businesses, parents, staff and students. In Clause 1(1), the Bill places a new duty on local authorities to promote understanding of the functions and democratic arrangements of public bodies and of, "““how members of the public can take part in those democratic arrangements and what is involved in taking part””." I touched on this in an earlier amendment, but how do the Government define ““democratic arrangements”” in relation to further education colleges and, indeed, to all the bodies included in Clause 2? Noble Lords will be aware that the children, skills and learning Bill to be introduced during this parliamentary Session will propose a new role for local authorities in funding education and training for 16 to 18 year-olds. However, the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Children, Schools and Families have stressed that colleges will remain autonomous and not come under the direct control of local authorities. Therefore, I would appreciate clarification from the Minister on what activities the Government expect a local authority to perform when promoting understanding of the democratic arrangements of colleges and the other connected authorities. Will the duty in reality amount to not very much at all, as I have suggested?