Member

The amendment from the noble Lord, Lord Bassam, offers a measured and entirely reasonable corrective. It would neither frustrate reform nor tie the Government’s hands. It simply requires Ministers to demonstrate that they have considered the real-world consequences of their decisions for place, for democracy and for financial and environmental sustainability, before issuing an invitation or, dare I say it, a direction. There is one point that we wish to add: it is important that local people are listened to, not just councils or councillors.