London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill

moved Amendment No. 59:"After Clause 18, insert the following new clause—" ““OLYMPIC LEGACY PLAN (1)   The Olympic Delivery Authority shall prepare and keep under review an Olympic Legacy Plan (““the plan””) for maximising the benefits to be derived after the London Olympics from things done in preparation for them. (2)   Before preparing a revision of the plan the Authority shall consult— (a)   the Mayor of London; (b)   the London Assembly; (c)   local authorities in areas likely to be affected by the implementation of the plan; (d)   the public in areas likely to be affected by the implementation of the plan.”” The noble Baroness said: The instigator of this amendment is the London Thames Gateway Forum, which knows what it is talking about in connection with the Thames Gateway. The particular concern is legacy and how the whole Olympics—the Minister mentioned the cultural aspects—can be used for the benefit of the community after the games. I acknowledge that Clause 4(3)(a) requires the ODA to have regard to legacy issues. The London Thames Gateway Forum has asked me to raise a concern, also held by bodies outside the forum, that the Bill gives no definition of what the benefits should be or who should benefit. Indeed, there is no absolute requirement to achieve a benefit and the responsibility for legacy lies with the ODA, but the ODA will be wound up once the Olympics are over. The Amendment proposes a legacy plan to give a tangible commitment and to focus minds on a mechanism for considering ideas that involve sustainable development. The forum mentioned that HMS ““Belfast”” wants more involvement of businesses in legacy planning and that a tourism manager in Greenwich wants to see economic development that will benefit tourism. I look forward to the Minister’s comments. I beg to move.