Member

Amendments 48 and 66, tabled by the noble Lord, Lord Shipley, seek to remove Clause 9 and Schedule 3, eliminating the role of commissioners from the Bill and preventing their appointment by mayors. I remind the noble Lord, as I think he recognised in his speech, that we are undertaking a significant transfer of power from central to local government. Ensuring that mayors have the capacity and capability to undertake these new responsibilities is an important part of broader reforms to make devolution a success. Commissioners are a key part of a mayor’s toolbox; they can deputise for the mayor in a specific area of competence, and by bringing their specific skills and experience to bear, they will help the mayor advance their policy agenda more efficiently and effectively than the mayor could working alone.