This was a lords amendment on the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. The bill seeks to broaden English devolution by creating new regional authorities and extending mayoral powers over planning, housing, transport, police and fire services, with new rules for budgeting, governance and accountability. It has been through both Houses with extensive amendments about who can create or change authorities, how budgets are set, planning priorities (notably brownfield land), parish governance, and transparency requirements, with ongoing negotiations between the Lords and Commons.
•- Creates new forms of English regional governance (foundation authorities and mayoral combined authorities) and expands powers for these authorities across planning, housing, transport, health, licensing and policing/fire functions.
•- Governance safeguards: amendments consider whether councils must consent to new or changed authorities, how commissioners are appointed, and how budgets and local tax rules apply to these bodies.
•- Planning and development policy debates: proposals to prioritise brownfield land before greenfield, the introduction of an "agent of change" principle to protect existing neighbours/businesses, and changes to how development is approved (including mayoral development orders).
•- Local democracy and parish governance: measures to promote parish and town councils, allow unparished areas to form new councils, and require consultation with parishes in neighbourhood decisions, along with electoral reform considerations.
The Commons voted 269 to 170 to approve Lords amendments 94B and 94C to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. Two MPs voted against their party whip in this division. The amendments include an 'agent of change' clause linking new development with existing businesses and facilities, updates to the Greater London Authority Act 1999, promotion of parish governance, and prioritising brownfield land, with one paragraph (z) removed.
Two MPs voted against their party whipAmendments expand planning and local governance measuresAgent of change links new development with existing businessesBrownfield land priority and parish governance promoted
AI-generated context — may contain errors.
Turnout by party
68%
Ulster Unionist Party
1/1 (100%)
Green Party
5/5 (100%)
Traditional Unionist Voice
1/1 (100%)
Your Party
1/1 (100%)
Restore Britain
1/1 (100%)
Conservative
95/114 (83%)
Liberal Democrat
58/72 (81%)
Democratic Unionist Party
4/5 (80%)
What happens next?
The Lords amendment result is sent back to the other House for consideration.
Current stage: Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons
