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Bill · started in the Lords

Local Democracy

To make provision for the purposes of promoting public involvement in relation to local authorities and other public authorities; to make provision about bodies representing the interests of tenants; to make provision about the procedures of local authorities and the audit of entities connected with them; to establish the Boundary Committee for England and to make provision relating to local government boundary and electoral change; to make provision about local and regional development; to amend the law relating to construction contracts; and for connected purposes.

Now an Act of Parliament

The story so farThe Local Democracy was introduced in the House of Lords on 4 December 2008 by Baroness Andrews (Labour). It completed its passage through Parliament and became law, receiving Royal Assent on 12 November 2009.

What the bill does

<p>The Bill seeks to create greater opportunities for community and individual involvement in local decision-making. It also provides for greater involvement of local authorities in local and regional economic development.</p><p><strong>Key areas:</strong></p><ul><li>Provisions to secure greater involvement of people in the workings and decision-making processes of local public authorities</li><li>provisions to ensure that councils respond to petitions and can consider other matters raised by citizens in their area</li><li>a new duty for local authorities to assess economic conditions; a joint duty on regional development agencies and local authorities to produce a single regional strategy; and powers for councils to co-operate in promoting economic development.</li></ul>Additional provisions in the Bill include: <ul><li>establishing a new body to represent the interests of housing tenants in England at national level </li><li>new powers for audit authorities to appoint auditors to, and to produce public interest reports on, entities connected with local authorities</li><li>making the Boundary Committee for England a separate body from the Electoral Commission </li><li>improving the operation of construction contracts particularly as regards cash flow and adjudication. </li></ul><p> </p>

Progress through Parliament

  1. 1st reading Lords 4 Dec 2008
  2. 2nd reading Lords 17 Dec 2008
  3. Committee stage Lords 19 Jan to 3 Mar 2009
  4. Report stage Lords 17 Mar to 22 Apr 2009
  5. 3rd reading Lords 29 Apr 2009
  6. 1st reading Commons 30 Apr 2009
  7. 2nd reading Commons 1 Jun 2009
  8. Programme motion Commons 1 Jun 2009
  9. Money resolution Commons 1 Jun 2009
  10. Committee stage Commons 9 Jun to 18 Jun 2009
  11. Report stage Commons 13 Oct 2009
  12. 3rd reading Commons 13 Oct 2009
  13. Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons Lords 9 Nov 2009
  14. Consideration of Lords amendments Commons 12 Nov 2009
  15. Royal Assent Unassigned 12 Nov 2009

Source: the official bill page. Last updated 18 Jan 2010.