Local government act 2010

Status of the bill: Enacted

Main purpose of the bill:

To revoke plans to establish Norwich and Exeter as unitary councils from 1st April 2010 and prevent planned Suffolk unitary proposals.

Main points of the bill:

Revokes the orders that create unitary councils for the cities of Exeter and Norwich.

Prevents any further orders to be made implementing unitary proposals received before the bill's commencement date.

Where any councillor's term of office has been extended by one year by any order, the bill allows such extension to continue. (This avoids by-elections on the revocation of the orders with the associated costs that would arise.)

Controversy

The second Lords reading had been scheduled to take place on 08.06.10. However, peers supported a motion put forward by Lord Howarth that the bill be referred to the Examiners to determine whether or not it is a hybrid bill. The Government was defeated by 154 votes to 150.
The Examiners met on 23.06.10 and certified that the Local Government Bill is not hybrid, thus allowing the bill to continue on its progress through the Lords.

Progress of the bill:

The Local Government Bill was included in the Queen's Speech on 25th May 2010.

Lords:
First reading: 26.05.10 Second Reading: 30.06.10 Committee Stage: 14.07.10 Report Stage: 28.07.10 Third Reading: 05.10.10

Commons:
First reading: 11.10.10 Second Reading: 21.10.10 Committee Stage: 02.11.10 Report Stage: 25.11.10 Third Reading: 25.11.10
Royal Assent: 16.12.10