Member

Amendment 33 seeks to probe whether the provisions in the Bill will remain applicable and effective in the event of English council reorganisation. As local government structures evolve—whether through mergers, boundary changes or the creation of new unitary authorities or new combined mayoral authorities—it is vital that legislation keeps pace. The effectiveness of the Bill depends heavily on the clarity and stability of the administrative bodies tasked with delivering its aims. Without foresight and flexibility built into the Bill, there is a real risk that its provisions could become outdated, misaligned or practically unenforceable in areas where governance structures have been changed. For example, responsibilities for infrastructure planning and delivery could be transferred to a newly formed authority that may not be explicitly recognised or empowered by the current wording of the legislation. This could create legal ambiguity, administrative inefficiency and unintended delays in infrastructure delivery. It is crucial that the Government clarify whether they have considered these eventualities and, if not, whether they are open to revising the Bill to future-proof it, ensuring that legislative coherence in the face of council reorganisation is maintained.