By David Williams
5 February 2010
A Private Members’ Bill giving councils more powers to hold local service providers to account has passed its second reading in the House of Commons.
But shortly after the Local Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny) Bill was backed by MPs, it was announced that its sponsor, Labour backbench MP David Chaytor, is to be prosecuted over his expenses claims.
The Bill has the backing of Communities Secretary John Denham and has been broadly welcomed by the Opposition. It proposes to give local authorities the power to legally compel organisations to attend public scrutiny hearings, provide information and respond in full to council recommendations on their performance.
Chaytor is accused under the Theft Act of dishonestly claiming for IT services and rent costs.
He was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party in May, and is among four parliamentarians to be accused today. All deny the charges.
5 February 2010
A Private Members’ Bill giving councils more powers to hold local service providers to account has passed its second reading in the House of Commons.
But shortly after the Local Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny) Bill was backed by MPs, it was announced that its sponsor, Labour backbench MP David Chaytor, is to be prosecuted over his expenses claims.
The Bill has the backing of Communities Secretary John Denham and has been broadly welcomed by the Opposition. It proposes to give local authorities the power to legally compel organisations to attend public scrutiny hearings, provide information and respond in full to council recommendations on their performance.
Chaytor is accused under the Theft Act of dishonestly claiming for IT services and rent costs.
He was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party in May, and is among four parliamentarians to be accused today. All deny the charges.
