Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
Recommendation 33
33
Accepted in Part
Amend clause 5 to enable GBR to arrange with multiple local government bodies.
Recommendation
The provisions in clause 5 should be amended to enable GBR to enter into a single arrangement with more than one relevant local government body, to allow for effective co-operation on local services that cross authority boundaries. (Recommendation, Paragraph 87) 37
Government Response Summary
The government partially agrees, stating GBR will need flexibility to engage multiple MSAs on local services that cross authority boundaries and the Bill allows for flexibility, but an amendment is not needed to achieve this.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The Government partially agrees with this recommendation. The Government agrees that GBR will need to have the flexibility to engage multiple MSAs on local services that cross authority boundaries. This will enable joint working on rail and wider transport priorities, giving Mayors genuine influence over outcomes while maintaining national integration. That is exactly why the detail of each partnership is not included in the Bill. The Bill provides Mayors and GBR with the framework and the principles for how they should work together, but deliberately allows for flexibility as we recognise that every local area is different. The Bill would not prevent GBR from entering into an arrangement with more than one MSA, for example, should it be beneficial for the effective co-operation on local services that cross authority boundaries. Therefore, while the Government agrees with the principle the Committee identifies, we do not believe an amendment is needed to the Bill to achieve this.