Member

However, the amendment proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Banner, will not resolve this issue effectively. It would create a contradiction to the procedures in the Local Government Act 1972 and would operate retrospectively, which could have unintended consequences. It would not provide robust safeguards which would ensure that local authorities are not incentivised to sell land without following the statutory consultation process. The duty to consult before disposing of land subject to a statutory trust remains an important safeguard, as it gives local communities an opportunity to speak up in favour of preserving their most important local spaces. The amendment proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Banner, would impact on other government priorities, such as increasing tree canopy and woodland cover to 16.5% of total land area by 2050 and ensuring that everyone lives within a 15-minute walk of green or blue space.