Miatta Fahnbulleh MP: speeches

Speeches

• 21 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  We are developing the process of providing a land use framework, and we are taking onboard the responses that have come through the consultation. Whether that framework ends up being high level and strategic or quite granular will come out through that process, so it feels incredibly prescriptive and constraining to put that requirement on local plans at this stage. Whether it is the local plan that is thinking about how we drive economic opportunities in the area, or it is the spatial development plan that mayors will be required to have in place, it will obviously have to take into account land use, the composition of the area, nature and all the key considerations in order to be an effective plan that works and that is supported by all the constituent members and parts that need to get onboard. I ask the hon. Member to withdraw her amendment.

• 21 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  I beg to move amendment 126, in schedule 15, page 174, line 29, at end insert— “Main powers in relation to acquired land 6A In section 11, omit ‘by the HCA’.” This would reflect the effect of the Bill on Schedule 3 to the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. This technical amendment again ensures consistency in how the Bill amends existing legislation. It removes the words “by the HCA” from a reference in section 11 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 to schedule 3 to that Act. In paragraph 10 of schedule 15 to the Bill, “by the HCA” is already being removed from the heading of schedule 3 to the 2008 Act. This change aligns with that. The original wording refers specifically to Homes England, and no longer reflects the full range of bodies that may exercise those powers under the Bill. This amendment ensures the legislation is clear and accurate, and I encourage the Committee to support it to ensure that we have clarity and consistency across our legislation. Amendment 126 agreed to. Amendments made: 127, in schedule 15, page 177, line 2, after “authority” insert “outside London”. This would alter the amendment of paragraph 17(1) so that the function there would not be conferred on the GLA (only on strategic authorities outside London). Amendment 128, in schedule 15, page 177, line 22, at end insert— “(8) In paragraph 21 (other land connected to religious worship), in sub-paragraph (1), after ‘HCA’ insert ‘or a strategic authority outside London’.”— (Miatta Fahnbulleh.) This would provide for paragraph 21 of Schedule 3 to the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 to apply in relation to land acquired by a strategic authority outside London. It allows for restrictions on the use of land that was connected to religious worship but was neither consecrated nor a burial ground.

• 21 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  Housing is a national priority for this Government, and these provisions play an important role in enabling strategic authorities to contribute meaningfully to this core mission. This is particularly true where regional leadership is needed to unlock delivery. These provisions enable strategic authorities to assess housing demand, provide amenities and acquire land. Land may be acquired compulsorily, subject to consultation in the case of mayoral strategic authorities, and via consent, in the case of non-mayoral strategic authorities. I believe this drives cohesive regional solutions. Some may argue that local councils have sufficient powers, but the clause grants strategic authorities the scope for the transformational, region-wide impact that I know Members across the House want to see. Clause 35 and schedule 16 harness proven powers to meet regional housing goals, and I commend them to the Committee.

• 21 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  The clause grants mayors of strategic authorities outside London the power to create mayoral development corporations. They are another tool for mayors to enable regional regeneration and economic development. Stripping away these provisions would limit regional ambition. The clause gives effect to schedule 17, allowing mayoral development corporations to spearhead land acquisition, planning and infrastructure projects. This will help to foster jobs, unlock growth, drive infrastructure development and attract investment into our regions. Question put and agreed to. Clause 36 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill . Schedule 17 Mayoral development corporations

• 21 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  Clause 34 introduces schedule 15, which contains provisions to enable strategic authorities outside London to undertake their housing and strategic planning competences. These standardise the extension of powers relating to the acquisition and use of land currently held by Homes England and local authorities to strategic authorities outside London.

• 21 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  I am happy to provide reassurance in writing.

• 21 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  That is why we have the planning process. We will come on to talk about the strategic spatial plan. That is a document that will have to be done in consultation with constituent authorities. It will focus on strategic infrastructure and development that is needed in the area. Ultimately, we hope that that process will be done through consensus. When it is not, and when there is a dispute between the constituent local authority and the strategic authority in the round, we have said that that will go to the Secretary of State to make a determination through the independent Planning Inspectorate. The planning process already has provisions for us to mitigate that instance. We have discussed the land use framework in Committee before. We have consulted on it and will publish the response to the consultation in due course. Although the principle of ensuring alignment across the piece is the right one, we think that before we have a tangible framework that is live and has been tested, it is premature to put a requirement in legislation that we would need to have regard to the land use framework.

• 21 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  I beg to move amendment 112, in schedule 15, page 173, line 30, leave out “authorities” and insert “councils”. This would change the provision to use the correct term “constituent council”.

• 21 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  These amendments make a small but important clarification to part 2 of schedule 15. They ensure that the provisions explicitly insert only references to non-mayoral combined authorities and non-mayoral combined county authorities. This is because mayoral combined authorities and mayoral combined county authorities already have these powers conferred upon them by the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Specifically, they fall within the definition of “local authorities”, so including them is unnecessary. These amendments do not remove any powers from mayoral combined authorities or mayoral combined county authorities; instead, they are small, technical amendments that simplify and clarify, and they are important for the consistency and coherence of the Bill. Amendment 141 agreed to. Amendments made: 142, in schedule 15, page 181, line 13, leave out “combined authority or” and insert “non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral”. Mayoral combined authorities and CCAs do not need to be added to this section as they are already within the definition of “local authority” in section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as precepting authorities). Amendment 143, in schedule 15, page 181, line 20, at end insert— ‘Power of Secretary of State to require acquisition or development of land 17A (1) Section 231 is amended in accordance with this paragraph. (2) In subsection (1)— (a) after “borough” insert “, or a combined authority or CCA,”; (b) after the second “council” insert “or combined authority or CCA”. (3) In subsection (2), after “local authority” insert “or a non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral CCA”.’ This would extend the application of section 231 so that all combined authorities and CCAs are within its scope. (Mayoral combined authorities and CCAs are already within subsection (2) as “local authorities” as defined in section 336 of the TCPA 1990.) Amendment 144, in schedule 15, page 181, line 23, leave out “combined authority or” and insert “non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral”. Mayoral combined authorities and CCAs do not need to be added to this section as they are already within the definition of “local authority” in section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as precepting authorities). Amendment 145, in schedule 15, page 181, line 27, leave out “combined authority or” and insert “non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral”. Mayoral combined authorities and CCAs do not need to be added to this section as they are already within the definition of “local authority” in section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as precepting authorities). Amendment 146, in schedule 15, page 182, line 3, leave out “combined authority or” and insert “non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral”. Mayoral combined authorities and CCAs do not need to be added to this section as they are already within the definition of “local authority” in section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as precepting authorities). Amendment 147, in schedule 15, page 182, line 5, leave out “combined authority or” and insert “non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral”. Mayoral combined authorities and CCAs do not need to be added to this section as they are already within the definition of “local authority” in section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as precepting authorities). Amendment 148, in schedule 15, page 182, line 11, leave out “combined authority or” and insert “non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral”. Mayoral combined authorities and CCAs do not need to be added to this section as they are already within the definition of “local authority” in section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as precepting authorities). Amendment 149, in schedule 15, page 182, line 13, leave out “combined authority or” and insert “non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral”. Mayoral combined authorities and CCAs do not need to be added to this section as they are already within the definition of “local authority” in section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as precepting authorities). Amendment 150, in schedule 15, page 182, line 16, leave out “combined authority or” and insert “non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral”. Mayoral combined authorities and CCAs do not need to be added to this section as they are already within the definition of “local authority” in section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as precepting authorities). Amendment 151, in schedule 15, page 182, line 18, leave out “combined authority or” and insert “non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral”. Mayoral combined authorities and CCAs do not need to be added to this section as they are already within the definition of “local authority” in section 336 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as precepting authorities). Amendment 152, in schedule 15, page 182, line 24, leave out from “In” to “compulsorily” in line 27 and insert “sections 238 and 239 ‘relevant acquisition or appropriation’ also includes an acquisition made by a combined authority or CCA under this Part or”. This would provide for the new subsection (4) to apply to section 238 (as well as section 239); and would remove the reference to the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as this does not apply to combined authorities or CCAs. Amendment 153, in schedule 15, page 182, line 35, at end insert— ‘Overriding of rights of possession 22A In section 242, in paragraph (a), after “authority” insert “or a non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral CCA”. Constitution of joint body to hold land for planning purposes 22B In section 243, in subsection (1)— (a) for “local authorities concerned” substitute “authorities concerned”; (b) for “local authority for planning purposes” substitute “local authority, or non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral CCA, for planning purposes; (c) for “any other local authority” substitute “any other local authority, non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral CCA”.’ This would extend the application of sections 242 and 243 so that all combined authorities and CCAs are within their scope. (Mayoral combined authorities and CCAs are already within their scope as “local authorities” as defined in section 336 of the TCPA 1990.) Amendment 154, in schedule 15, page 183, line 3, at end insert— ‘Extinguishment of rights of statutory undertakers: preliminary notices 23A (1) Section 271 is amended in accordance with this paragraph. (2) In the following provisions, for “local authority” substitute “relevant authority”— (a) subsection (1) (in both places); (b) subsection (5) (in the words before paragraph (a)). (3) After subsection (8) insert— “(9) In this section ‘relevant authority’ means— (a) a local authority, or (b) a non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral CCA.” Extinguishment of rights of electronic communications code network operators: preliminary notices 23B (1) Section 272 is amended in accordance with this paragraph. (2) In the following provisions, for “local authority” substitute “relevant authority”— (a) subsection (1) (in both places); (b) subsection (5) (in the words before paragraph (a)). (3) After subsection (8) insert— “(9) In this section ‘relevant authority’ means— (a) a local authority, or (b) a non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral CCA.” Orders under sections 271 and 272 23C In section 274, in subsection (3), for “local authority” substitute “relevant authority”. Extension or modification of functions of statutory undertakers 23D (1) Section 275 is amended in accordance with this paragraph. (2) In the following provisions, for “local authority” substitute “relevant authority”— (a) subsection (1)(a); (b) subsection (3) (in all three places); (c) subsection (5)(c). (3) After subsection (5) insert— “(6) In this section ‘relevant authority’ means— (a) a local authority, or (b) a non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral CCA.” Procedure in relation to orders under section 275 23E In section 276, in subsection (1), in the words before paragraph (a), for “local authority” substitute “relevant authority”. Objections to orders under sections 275 and 277 23F In section 278, in subsection (7), for “local authority” substitute “relevant authority”. Contributions by local authorities and statutory undertakers 23G (1) Section 306 is amended in accordance with this paragraph. (2) In the following provisions, for “local authority” substitute “relevant authority”— (a) the heading; (b) subsection (1) (in the words before paragraph (a) and in paragraph (c)); (c) subsection (2) (in the words before paragraph (a)); (d) subsection (3) (in both places); (e) subsection (4). (3) After subsection (6) insert— “(7) In this section ‘relevant authority’ means— (a) a local authority, or (b) a non-mayoral combined authority or non-mayoral CCA.”’— (Miatta Fahnbulleh.) This would extend the application of these sections so that all combined authorities and CCAs are within their scope. (Mayoral combined authorities and CCAs are already within their scope as “local authorities” as defined in section 336 of the TCPA 1990.) Schedule 15, as amended, agreed to. Clause 35 Housing accommodation Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• 21 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  These amendments are, again, about making the legislation clearer and more consistent. They confirm that only councils that are strategic authorities are subject to the additional consent requirements when using the compulsory purchase powers in the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008. This matches what was already set out in subsection (1) of proposed new section 9A of that Act. Without those changes, there would be confusion about whether all county and district councils are included. That is not the intention: these provisions are meant to apply only where councils are designated as strategic authorities. The amendment is helpful to avoid misinterpretation and ensure that the Bill is applied as intended. Amendment 122 agreed to. Amendments made: 123, in schedule 15, page 174, line 20, at end insert— “(c) the Broads Authority.” This would require the consent of the Broads Authority if any of the land proposed for compulsory acquisition is in its area. Amendment 124, in schedule 15, page 174, line 21, after “council” insert “that is a strategic authority”. This would clarify that subsection (9) applies to a district council only if it is a strategic authority (in line with the application provision in subsection (1) of the new section 9A). Amendment 125, in schedule 15, page 174, line 22, leave out from “any” to end of line 24 and insert “of the following bodies whose area contains any part of the land subject to the proposed compulsory acquisition— (a) any National Park authority; (b) the Broads Authority.”— (Miatta Fahnbulleh.) This would make the Broads Authority a consultee if any of the land proposed for compulsory acquisition is in its area.

• 21 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Seventh sitting) · Hansard source

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  We are very clear that although we want a strategic assessment of the economic opportunities and risk in an area, and a local growth plan that crosses that area, it must be informed by constituent authorities. The way it is working in practice—we hope the legislation enables this—is that constituent authorities bring into the conversation their understanding, insights, analysis and key priorities for the area, and a collective decision is made. Ultimately, I come back to the point I have made consistently: the mayor’s capacity to be effective and deliver is only as strong as their relations and collaboration with constituent authorities. Question put and agreed to. Clause 37 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill. Schedule 18 agreed to. Clause 38 Local growth plans Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  Strategic authorities are uniquely placed to understand the sustained demand for education and training places in their areas. In line with the rest of the Bill, the clause places duties on strategic authorities to work with their constituent councils to plan provision locally and ensure that enough education and training is provided in their areas. This will ensure that the needs of those aged 16 to 18, and those aged 19 or over with an education, health and care plan, are met. Some strategic authorities already have these duties. This provision creates uniformity across all areas and provides the legal basis for the allocation of funding to meet such duties. All areas should benefit from strategic authorities working with their constituent councils to deliver essential education and training for young people. Government amendment 107 will ensure that at least one full academic year has passed between the establishment or designation of a new strategic authority and its ability to exercise the six adult education functions. It also ensures that the strategic authority delivers those functions from the beginning of an academic year, thereby mitigating disruption for learners and providers. The full academic year gives strategic authorities time to build their adult skills teams, develop their skills strategies and plan how they will fund and procure adult skills provision in their areas, thereby maximising the chances of effective delivery. This approach is in line with that taken for strategic authorities that already exercise such functions. Strategic authorities that already exercise adult education functions will continue to do so uninterrupted. Amendment 105 agreed to. Question proposed, That the clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill.

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I beg to move amendment 98, in schedule 9, page 152, leave out lines 10 to 13 and insert— “14 In section 146 (mandatory concessions: supplementary)— (a) the existing text becomes subsection (1); (b) in that subsection, in the definition of ‘travel concession authority’, after paragraph (c) insert— ‘(cza) a combined authority, (czb) a combined county authority,’; (c) after that subsection insert— ‘(2) A county council or a council of a non-metropolitan district is not a travel concession authority for the purposes of this Part where— (a) the council is a constituent council of a combined authority or a combined county authority (and here “constituent council” has the meaning given by section 104(11) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 in relation to a combined authority and section 10(11) of the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023 in relation to a combined county authority), and (b) the combined authority or combined county authority has completed its first full financial year.’” This removes joint functions as a travel concession authority from constituent councils of a combined authority or CCA once the authority has completed its first full financial year.

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  Government amendment 88 ensures that the combined authority or combined county authority is the only local transport authority for the area with the associated powers and duties once it has completed its first full financial year. That includes having responsibility for local transport planning, bus partnerships and bus franchising, and is in line with its role as the strategic decision-making authority for the area, with other responsibilities such as producing the local growth plan. Constituent councils sometimes need to retain certain local transport powers to continue the operation of, for example, a local authority-owned bus company. That will still be possible through bespoke arrangements provided for in secondary legislation. Turning to Government amendments 89 to 97, 99 and 100. Paragraph 4 of schedule 9 currently sets out the voting arrangements for adopting local transport plans for mayoral combined authorities and mayoral combined county authorities. These amendments extend the provision to cover all types of combined authorities and combined county authorities. This will provide standardisation and clarity for non-mayoral combined authorities and non-mayoral combined county authorities about the requirements for adopting their local transport plans. Regarding Government amendment 92, there are currently no provisions in schedule 9 for the type of vote needed to adopt a local transport plan in non-mayoral combined authorities and non-mayoral combined county authorities. The amendment provides a clear voting arrangement: a simple majority vote of constituent members. That is in line with the approach taken for mayoral combined authorities and mayoral combined county authorities in the schedule. It ensures that a majority of the constituent members agree with the decision on top of the consent requirement provided for in Government amendment 96. Government amendment 94 provides detail on how votes to adopt the local transport plan occur in non-mayoral combined authorities and non-mayoral combined county authorities. In line with the existing provisions in schedule 9 for mayoral combined authorities and mayoral combined county authorities, the amendment ensures that each constituent member has one vote. Unlike mayoral combined authorities and mayoral combined county authorities though, no member of a non-mayoral combined authority and non-mayoral combined county authorities will have a casting vote. In the event of a tie, the resolution would not pass. A clear majority would be needed. This amendment is important to bring clarity to how votes to adopt local transport plans are taken in all types of combined authorities and combined county authorities. Finally, on Government amendment 96, the standard voting arrangement for making decisions in non-mayoral combined authorities and non-mayoral combined county authorities will be a simple majority vote, as is provided for in clause 6. However, in the English devolution White Paper, the Government committed to ensuring that key strategic decisions would have the support of all constituent councils. Adopting a local transport plan is one of those key decisions. Existing non-mayoral combined authorities and non-mayoral combined county authorities already have provisions in their constitutions that require local transport plans to be agreed by all constituent councils. We know that these provisions provide reassurance to prospective constituent councils, which is why the amendment introduces a requirement for non-mayoral combined authorities and non-mayoral combined county authorities to get the consent of all their constituent councils before adopting a local transport plan. I commend all the amendments to the Committee. Amendment 88 agreed to .

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  The Government agree that we need to streamline and simplify the planning process, making it much quicker and smoother. I will again put on the record that the previous Government had 14 years to do that, but they absolutely, categorically, failed to do so. We are now getting on with it, and my colleagues in the Department have taken the Planning and Infrastructure Bill through the House. Hon. Members on the Conservative Benches should not want to be talking about their record, because they should be ashamed of it. On the key point about adding another level of complexity, I point hon. Members to the fact that the measure applies only to strategic sites. The planning system will operate as usual, with local planning authorities having the key remit to drive things forward. This provision is for strategically significant sites, partly because of their scale or because they are critical to the strategic development plan.

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I beg to move amendment 87, in schedule 8, page 142, line 20, leave out from beginning to “that” in line 25 and insert “under section 33 or 33A of the Traffic Management Act 2004 or under a permit scheme prepared under section 33 of”. This amends the definition of “permit authority power” in relation to combined county authorities so that it conforms with the definition used in relation to combined authorities in section 89A of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (as inserted by this Bill). Under schedule 8, the mayors of combined authorities and combined county authorities will have a power to direct local highways authorities in the use of their powers on these roads, including over traffic, highway, street and permit authorities. The power of direction will help mayors to deliver their local transport plans and assist places in developing more integrated transport networks. The role of a permit authority is to provide permits for roads and street works. The amendment will make a minor adjustment to ensure that the definition of a permit authority is coherent throughout schedule 8. This is an important amendment to ensure that schedule 8 delivers on our aims of a consistent framework of powers across all combined authorities and combined county authorities. Amendment 87 agreed to .

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I beg to move amendment 88, in schedule 9, page 149, leave out lines 25 and 26 and insert— “(a) the council is a constituent council of a combined authority or a combined county authority (and here ‘constituent council’ has the meaning given by section 104(11) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 in relation to a combined authority and section 10(11) of the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023 in relation to a combined county authority),”. This clarifies when a county council or a council of non-metropolitan district will not be a local transport authority for the purposes of the Transport Act 2000.

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  Schedule 5 sets out the details on giving the Secretary of State the ability to empower local authorities to license on-street micromobility services, such as dockless cycle schemes, operating in their areas. We have had a good, broad debate on this, and I think there is support across the Committee for the view that this area must be tackled. All licensing regimes will contain mandatory conditions and additional local conditions, which will bring the consistency that all parties seek, while ensuring flexibility to meet the needs and priorities of different areas. The framework allows for new micromobility modes, such as pavement robots and e-scooters, to be incorporated in future, to ensure that our local leaders will always be able to manage their streets effectively. The schedule sets out clear, consistent processes and powers for local authorities to feel confident that these services are operating safely and effectively in their areas, and are well integrated into the transport networks of the future. I commend schedule 5 to the Committee.

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I am very happy to give that assurance. I think the hon. Gentleman can accept my word: in a previous sitting, I assured hon. Members that I would come back in writing, and I think we did that within a day. Amendment 98 agreed to. Amendments made: 99, in schedule 9, page 152, line 15, leave out “place insert” and insert— “places insert the following definitions”. This amendment is consequential on Amendment 90. Amendment 100, in schedule 9, page 152, line 17, at end insert— “‘non-mayoral CCA’ means a combined county authority that is not a mayoral CCA, ‘non-mayoral combined authority’ means a combined authority that is not a mayoral combined authority,”. This amendment is consequential on Amendment 90. Amendment 101, in schedule 9, page 152, line 30, leave out from “are” to the end of line 31 and insert “— (a) where the combined authority or combined county authority has completed its first full financial year, references to the combined authority or combined county authority (instead of to the council), and (b) until that time, references to the combined authority or combined county authority as well as to the council.” This provides for combined authorities and CCAs to have joint transport functions with county councils within their area until they have completed their first financial year, and thereafter to hold those functions alone. Amendment 102, in schedule 9, page 153, leave out lines 6 and 7 and insert “— (a) where the combined authority or combined county authority has completed its first full financial year, references to the combined authority or combined county authority (instead of to the council), and (b) until that time, references to the combined authority or combined county authority as well as to the council.” This provides for combined authorities and CCAs to have joint transport functions with county councils within their area until they have completed their first financial year, and thereafter to hold those functions alone. Amendment 103, in schedule 9, page 153, line 13, at end insert— “19A In section 93 (travel concession schemes), after subsection (8) insert— ‘(8A) A county council or a council of a non-metropolitan district is not a local authority for the purposes of this section where— (a) the council is a constituent council of a combined authority or a combined county authority (and here “constituent council” has the meaning given by section 104(11) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 in relation to a combined authority and section 10(11) of the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023 in relation to a combined county authority), and (b) the combined authority or combined county authority has completed its first full financial year.’” This removes certain jointly held travel functions relating to travel concessions from constituent councils of a combined authority or CCA once the combined authority or CCA has completed its first full financial year. Amendment 104, in schedule 9, page 153, line 18, at end insert— “(d) after subsection (3) insert— ‘(4) The power under subsection (1) does not apply to a county or district council where— (a) the council is a constituent council of a combined authority or a combined county authority (and here “constituent council” has the meaning given by section 104(11) of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 in relation to a combined authority and section 10(11) of the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Act 2023 in relation to a combined county authority), and (b) the combined authority or combined county authority has completed its first full financial year.’” —(Miatta Fahnbulleh.) This removes the power in the Transport Act 1985 of constituent councils of a combined authority or CCA to provide travel concessions once the combined authority or CCA has completed its first full financial year. Q uestio n proposed, That the schedule, as amended, be the Ninth schedule to the Bill.

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  In the end, this will only come into place where the constituent authorities support it. When it is the Secretary of State making the request, it would be with the Secretary of State; when it is constituent authorities coming together to do maintenance or works that they would do anyway, it would be shared among them. Question put and agreed to. Clause 24 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill. Schedule 6 agreed to. Clause 25 Civil enforcement of traffic contraventions Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  The clause will make it easier for Transport for London to free up land for new housing and development in the capital. The Bill gives the Mayor of London the power to agree to Transport for London selling or leasing unneeded operational land. In most cases, this will remove the need for Government consent, which currently adds complexity and delay to the process. To guard against the risk of Transport for London inadvertently disposing of operational land that is relied upon by the wider rail network in London, the Bill requires Transport for London to consult Network Rail before selling or leasing land involved in wider rail services. To reflect the Mayor of London’s geographical remit, and to mitigate against a democratic deficit, the Mayor’s powers to consent will apply only to Transport for London land within the Greater London Authority area. These changes will better enable the Mayor of London to unlock land for much-needed housing, supporting growth in the capital.

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  There are a few amendments to work through, so let me take them in turn. On amendment 246, although I share the desire of the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole to ensure that the general public can hold their authorities to account, particularly on something as important as parking, the amendment would limit the ability of combined authorities and combined county authorities to effectively discharge their functions. It would prevent the mayor and elected members from delegating functions to officers or commissioners—that is the intent of the amendment—but delegating those functions to individuals with the specialist knowledge and capacity to carry out those functions effectively is an important and long-standing feature of how those authorities operate. I can absolutely reassure the hon. Member that officers are already accountable to the authority, and to its overview and scrutiny committee. The Committee yesterday debated commissioners, and their accountability to the mayor and the oversight committee. Likewise, where a combined authority or combined county authority exercises civil enforcement powers they may do so only with the written consent of relevant constituent authorities. We believe that sufficient safeguards have been put in place to address the important point that the hon. Member raises. I share the concerns that amendment 348 seeks to address. I agree that vehicles parked on pavements can cause serious problems for all pedestrians, especially people with mobility issues or sight impairment, as well as for prams and pushchairs. All mums in the House, and indeed dads, could attest to that. The Government are already considering measures to address pavement parking. We know and have heard that it is an issue. As the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole stated, the Department for Transport put out a consultation in 2020. We will publish a formal response to that consultation in due course. In the meantime it is worth saying that highways authorities may continue to introduce specific local pavement parking restrictions using their existing powers. We know that pavement parking is an issue. It is an issue that the Government and the Department will come to more fully. On the specific matter of varying parking charges across different areas, local authorities already have the ability to vary charges within the levels set in national guidance. Obviously, they have to take the decision to vary carefully, and do it alongside public consultation. Amendment 291 essentially seeks to prevent mayors of combined authorities and combined county authorities from increasing charges for vehicle parking, and from using the proceeds of those charges. The Bill does not provide mayors with powers in respect of parking provision. Parking restrictions inherently apply with localised variations—we acknowledge that. Consistent enforcement across a combined authority and combined county authority area is therefore not appropriate. That is why the Government have determined that powers relating to parking provision should continue to be exercised by local authorities. Combined authorities and combined county authorities will not have powers to provide paid-for parking places. The Bill does provide combined authorities and combined county authorities with the ability to take on powers on civil enforcement of contraventions of bus lanes and moving traffic restrictions. Critically, any proceeds in any case are ring-fenced, in the way that they are with local authorities, for environmental measures and public transport schemes. The scenario would not arise in which parking charges could be used to fund something other than those narrowly defined areas.

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I will respond to the questions that were asked. The key question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for North West Cambridgeshire concerned the designation of key route networks and its potential inappropriate use by mayors. The mayor will not be able to do that unilaterally; they will be able to do so only alongside their constituent authorities and with their support. We think that that will fundamentally mitigate that risk, but he is right to raise it, and we will keep it under review to ensure that the Bill does not operate differently from the intent behind it. The hon. Member for Brighton Pavilion suggested that we should move beyond having an Office of Rail and Road to having an office of integrated transport. I endeavour to write to her to inform her of the Department for Transport’s considerations. On the wider question of key route networks versus local road networks, we are trying to strike a balance between conferring strategic power on the mayor, and the ability not just to request reports from the highways authority, but to direct it to respond to them. The principal authority has the ability to put those requests, but also the ability to respond to them. We think we have the balance between those things right, because, in the end, they interact in a place. Although we do not want to confer too much power on the strategic authority, neither do we want to denude the local highways authority of the power that sits with it. Question put, That the schedule, as amended, be the Eighth schedule to the Bill.

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  I agree with the hon. Lady’s broader point. There is absolutely a piece for us to think about regarding energy infrastructure. Having served as Minister for energy consumers, thinking about how we drive warm homes and the interaction with the grid, there is clearly a big piece of work that needs to be done there, and a role for strategic authorities to play in thinking about that planning in an integrated way. The frameworks that amendment 252 refers to are nascent and likely to be quite high level, but the principle is that as strategic planning authorities think about their spatial energy plan they should think about both how they effectively use the land and the energy and transport infrastructure that is in place. I agree with the intent behind amendment 304. I refer hon. Members to the national planning policy framework, which rightly places greater emphasis on the use of previously developed land, and we want to see mayoral development orders used to support urban regeneration. On those points, we are completely aligned. However, we should not over-constrain mayors. We want legislative flexibility to allow a mayor to use a range of land types across their area. Where an urban extension or a new town is the appropriate thing, we do not want to bind the hands of mayoral strategic authorities and stop them being able to use the right land for the right development.

• 16 Oct 2025 · English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill (Sixth sitting) · Hansard source

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  Devolving adult education functions, such as the duty to secure the provision of education and training for persons aged 19 or over, will provide strategic authorities with an essential tool to drive regional economic prosperity. As I have said, adult education functions are already devolved to 21 strategic authorities and delegated to the Greater London Authority, but the arrangements are currently ad hoc and patchwork. Clause 30 will allow the automatic conferring of adult education functions on new and existing strategic authorities, to create a more consistent and coherent model of devolution. It establishes a standardised framework—a key objective of the Bill—so that devolved powers, duties and functions are taken up by all strategic authorities. Schedule 10 amends the Apprenticeships, Schools, Children and Learning Act 2009 to confer education-related duties to strategic authorities. The manner in which those duties are conferred is in line with the approach for the 13 authorities that already have adult education functions. I commend the clause to the Committee. Question put and agreed to. Clause 30, as amended, accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill. Amendments made: 106, in schedule 10, page 153, line 22, after “this” insert “Part of this”. This would be consequential on Amendment 108. Amendment 107, in schedule 10, page 157, line 37, at end insert— “10A After section 120A insert— ‘ 120B When functions become exercisable by strategic authorities The Mayor of London (1) The functions conferred on the Mayor of London by this Part are exercisable by the Mayor in relation to— (a) the academic year beginning with 1 August 2025, and (b) each subsequent academic year. Combined authority or CCA already exercising the functions (2) Subsection (3) applies to a combined authority or CCA if functions conferred on it by this Part are also pre-commencement functions. (3) The functions continue to be exercisable by the combined authority or CCA on and after the commencement day (but as functions conferred by this Part). Other combined authority or CCA (4) Subsection (5) applies to a combined authority or CCA— (a) if functions conferred on it by this Part are not pre-commencement functions; (b) whether the combined authority or CCA was established before, or is established on or after, the commencement day. (5) The functions conferred on the combined authority or CCA by this Part are exercisable by it in relation to— (a) the second academic year to begin after the academic year during which it was, or is, established, and (b) each subsequent academic year. District or county council already exercising the functions (6) Subsection (7) applies to a district council or county council that is a strategic authority if functions conferred on it by this Part are also pre-designation functions. (7) The functions continue to be exercisable by the district council or county council on and after its designation (but as functions conferred by this Part). Other district or county council (8) Subsection (9) applies to a district council or county council that is a strategic authority if functions conferred on it by this Part are not pre-designation functions. (9) The functions conferred on the district council or county council by this Part are exercisable by it in relation to— (a) the second academic year to begin after the academic year during which its designation takes effect, and (b) each subsequent academic year. Interpretation (10) In this section— “academic year” means each period— (a) beginning with 1 August, and (b) ending with the next 31 July; “commencement day” means the day on which the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2025 is passed; “designation”, in relation to a district council or county council that is a strategic authority, means its designation as a single foundation strategic authority; “pre-commencement functions” means functions which were exercisable by a combined authority or CCA immediately before the commencement day by virtue of— (a) an order under Part 6 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, or (b) regulations under Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023; “pre-designation functions” means functions which are exercisable by a district council or county council immediately before its designation, by virtue of regulations under section 16 of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016.’”. This would specify when the education functions dealt with by Schedule 10 become exercisable by a strategic authority. If a strategic authority does not already have the functions, or is established or designated after commencement, the functions are exercisable in relation to the second academic year after establishment or designation. Amendment 108 in schedule 10, page 158, line 36, at end insert— “Part 2 Education for 16-19 year olds etc 13 The Education Act 1996 is amended in accordance with this Part of this Schedule. 14 (1) Section 15ZA (duty in respect of education and training for persons over compulsory school age: England) is amended in accordance with this paragraph. (2) In subsection (1), for ‘local authority in England’ substitute ‘relevant authority’. (3) In the following provisions, for ‘local authority’ substitute ‘relevant authority’— (a) subsection (2); (b) subsection (3), in the words before paragraph (a); (c) in subsection (4), in the words before paragraph (a); (d) in subsection (5), in the words before paragraph (a); (e) in subsection (9). 15 In section 15ZB (co-operation in performance of section 15ZA duty), for ‘Local authorities in England’ substitute ‘Relevant authorities’. 16 In section 15ZC (encouragement of education and training for persons over compulsory school age: England), in subsection (1), in the words before paragraph (a), for ‘local authority in England’ substitute ‘relevant authority’. 17 In section 579 (general interpretation), in subsection (1), after the definition of ‘regulations’ insert— ‘“relevant authority” means— (a) a local authority in England, (b) a combined authority established under Part 6 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009, or (c) a combined county authority established under Chapter 1 of Part 2 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023.’”. —(Miatta Fahnbulleh.) This would confer on strategic authorities additional functions relating to education and training for persons over compulsory school age. Schedule 10, as amended, agreed to. Clause 31 Planning applications of potential strategic importance Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.