Member

On Amendment 207 from the noble Lord, Lord Lansley, we do not want to impose a model that does not offer places flexibility to design neighbourhood governance to meet their own local requirements. Requiring neighbourhood governance structures to retain and strengthen the role of town and parish councils over other models of community partnership could be a one-size-fits-all approach. Town and parish councils already have statutory functions and powers under existing legislation; nothing in Clause 60 or any other part of the Bill removes or diminishes them. We fully recognise and value the important role that town and parish councils play in neighbourhood governance. The aim of this clause is to complement that work, not replace or diminish it.