Business Rate Supplements Bill

I shall try to do that because these are important points. They go to the heart of the commitment that the partnership makes to ensure that all the partners are fully informed in their ownership of what is being done. The amendment is in two parts and would require levying authorities to expressly set out in their perspective how they will involve stakeholders in the delivery of BRS objectives. If a levying authority intends to set up an organisation to deliver the BRS-funded project, the amendment proposes that the prospectus should explain how BRS ratepayers are to be represented on the governing body. Where no such organisation is proposed, the prospectus should describe how those who would be liable for the BRS would be involved in overseeing the delivery of the project. We have talked quite a lot in the Committee about the notion of the Bill being a flexible framework with safeguards within which local authorities can tailor what they do to suit their community and partnership and how they should operate in order to levy a BRS for their specific economic development project. The Bill already requires levying authorities to set out in their prospectus how they will provide business with information about progress on the BRS-funded project. That is a very important point because this will be a dynamic project that may take many years, and it is vital that business is kept continuously up to date with what is being delivered under the commitments. I am sure that that is partly what Lyons meant by a "strong voice". That would have to be clear in the prospectus and one would have to ensure that that was what was delivered in terms of the communication strategy. The second part of the amendment relates to governance. As the noble Baroness, Lady Hamwee, said, issues are raised here concerning the nature of the governance choice, and it involves complexity. Every area is different, with different needs and levels of partnership working, and different resources at their disposal. Therefore, flexibility and local autonomy are very important in order to tailor governance procedures for projects. Given that the projects may be using BRS to a greater or lesser extent, I would be afraid that, if we were to lay down anything more than a broad set of principles here, we might end up with a governance body that was not fit for purpose, or it might be fit for one type of purpose but not for another. We need to respect potential diversity and ensure that the governance arrangements are as good as they need to be and right for each area. For example, we might find that a project is managed by a few key local businesses or by an outside contractor, and both will require a different set of governance methods. They may choose to draw on the expertise and experience of businesses that may not have to pay the supplement because, for example, they fall below the £50,000 rateable value threshold. We must not emphasise one aspect of governance more than another, although of course there must be clear governance procedures for every project. Although I respect the intention behind the amendment, we should not bind the hands of local authorities and business regarding how they wish to manage their project. I hope that having that on the record will help the noble Lord.