The Localism Bill is receiving its second reading in the House of Commons today. To coincide with this the Department for Communities and Local Government have published a Plain English Guide to the Localism Bill and have released messages of support for the bill from several organisations including Civic Voice, British Property Foundation, Chartered Institute of Housing, National Association of Local Councils, Town and Country Planning Association, Action for Market Towns and Res Publica.
Also today Labour have tabled a motion to block the second reading of the Bill. The motion, signed by shadow Communities and Local Government secretary Caroline Flint and Labour leader Ed Miliband, said the devolution of power proposed by the bill is undermined by the level of power in the hands of Eric Pickles. The motion suggests that the bill should have been preceded by a fuller consultation process.
Watch the Localism Bill debated in parliament live from about 4pm on the BBC’s Democracy Live website.
Sustainable Neighbourhoods Action Group 