Moved by
Lord Khan of Burnley
293C: After Clause 133, insert the following new Clause—
“Readiness of local authorities to deliver schemes enabled under this Act
(1) Within three months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must undertake a review of the readiness of local authorities to deliver environmental schemes established or otherwise enabled under this Act.
(2) The review under subsection (1) must include an assessment of the extent to which the current financial and staffing resource of local authorities is consistent with that required for such bodies to fulfil additional obligations as they arise.
(3) If the review determines that current resourcing for local authorities is insufficient for them to meet relevant obligations, the Secretary of State must, as soon as practicable, make a statement confirming—
(a) whether central government funding for local authorities will be increased accordingly, or
(b) what mechanisms Her Majesty’s Government proposes to establish to enable local authorities to recover any additional costs.
(4) The Secretary of State must lay before Parliament and publish—
(a) the review under subsection (1), and
(b) any statement under subsection (3).”
Member’s explanatory statement
This new Clause is intended to explore the extent to which local authorities are financially and otherwise prepared to deliver new schemes and responsibilities established under this legislation.