To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2007, Official Report, columns 1157-8W, on regional planning and development, whether a Secretary of State’s decision to require the draft Local Area Agreement to be amended may be imposed on local councils against their advice. (182059)

Section 107(1) of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 allows the Secretary of State to require the amendment of a draft Local Area Agreement, but does not specify the considerations that might affect such a decision.

The Government Office will be expected to resolve any difficulties earlier in the negotiation, reducing the likelihood that the draft LAA will need to be redrafted. This is emphasised in sections 4.17 to 4.18 of the draft statutory guidance: “Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities”, available on the CLG website at:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/local government/statutoryguidance