Localism Bill progresses despite opposition and critiques
The Second Reading debate in the House of Commons on the Localism Bill took place on January 17: the first debate on the Bill since its introduction in Parliament in mid-December. The debate lasted for six hours, and duly ended with the Bill receiving its second reading, despite the Labour Party's attempts to block it. Parliament is now asking for written representations no the Bill - for more details see below.
The most controversial provisions appeared to be the community right to challenge/buy, having 'shadow mayors' in advance of referundums to elect actual mayors, and the provisions for social housing. Many MPs also said that localism was useless if communities did not have the means to exercise it (due to the cuts).
Read more on the blog of planning lawyer Angus Walker from Bircham Dyson Bell
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