Commentary on Sections Section 95: LGBC for England: changes to facilitate efficient administration
436.This section amends the governance arrangements for the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (“LGBCE”) set out in Schedule 1 to the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. That Act provides that the functions of the Speaker’s Committee include overseeing the procedure for the selection of the Chair of the LGBCE and examining the estimates and five-year plans of the LGBCE.
437.Subsection (2) enables the LGBCE to appoint up to two independent members to its audit committee. At present, members of any committees must be Commissioners.
438.Currently, there is a requirement for the LGBCE to produce a five-year plan annually and the Comptroller and Auditor General (the National Audit Office) to carry out an annual audit of the Commission’s activities, which is reported to the Speaker’s Committee.
439.Subsections (4) and (5) amend this requirement so that the LGBCE is required to produce a five-year plan in respect of the first year of a new Parliament and subsequently as required by the Speaker’s Committee.
440.Subsection (6) requires the National Audit Office to carry out an audit and to provide a report to accompany any five-year plan, rather than annually.
441.The amendments form part of the law of England and Wales.
442.The section comes into force on a day to be appointed by the Secretary of State in a commencement order.