Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill [HL]

To my surprise, I find myself in agreement with quite a lot of what the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, said because he gave examples of people who have a connection with a local area but do not come within the Government’s definition. However, I cannot agree with one general point he made. He would alter the word ““means”” to ““includes””. As this arises out of a duty on the local authority to promote understanding, and the Government intend that to be a serious duty, the local authority must want a clear definition of to whom the duty is owed. To have it at large would leave a great deal of undesirable uncertainty. The noble Lord has made a case for examining closely, and perhaps altering, the definition, but I agree that there should be a definition.