Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

I thank the Minister for her detailed response. It has not been easy for me to follow the arguments, because it is not entirely clear to me whether the Government trust local authorities to take that role forward or whether they still feel that a layer of bureaucracy is required. I hear the detailed examples that the Minister gives; I could exchange some examples with her. The LGA is concerned about where RDA delegation is not working. For example, the north-west development agency has been working with Cheshire County Council to decide between a separate regeneration company and the delegation of programme funding to the county council to support the Weaver Valley regeneration programme. In the past month, the north-west development agency has said that it will no longer be possible for it to do so and that each individual project will now have to be appraised and approved separately. Even where the RDAs would like to delegate, the existing rules and regulations prevent them from having the flexibility crucial in the current economic climate. I have another example. In the East Midlands, the RDA has been keen to transfer its single programme funding to the nine upper-tier authorities from April 2009, but existing legislation and BERR guidelines mean that East Midlands Development Agency, to which the Minister referred, must also authorise expenditure on individual projects. There is concern that RDAs are inflexible and unduly bureaucratic. If the Minister will bear with me, I have another example. About a year ago, Tourism West Midlands, which is an arm of the RDA, decided to try to streamline its funding procedures. A three-year business plan was produced by Destination Worcestershire with the expectation of spending about £150,000 a year in a three-year programme. However, because of the bureaucracy, no funding from TWM has been received for the year April 2008 to April 2009. Without bankrolling of that project by local councils, no marketing of Worcestershire would have taken place in that year. It is another example of procedures not working even where there is goodwill on the ground about delegation and trusting local authorities, those closest to the electorate and those who empower communities most. The current guidelines, rules and legislation prevent that. My amendment would in one instance allow that flexibility. I am sure that we shall return to this matter on Report after reading the Minister’s arguments in Hansard. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 182 withdrawn.