Big Society: Britain in Bloom

Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe Excerpts

Wednesday 9th March 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Hanham]

Well, my Lords, we all like flowers and we like to see them in public places. It gives life to areas if there are planted flowers rather than bushes, which can be rather drab. I agree very much with that and with any other schemes that are taking place. Indeed, as I am sure noble Lords know, local authorities run their own schemes. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, which is my borough, runs Kensington and Chelsea in bloom and has its own competitions, there is the wider London in Bloom competition, and there is the green flag award, which is run for public open spaces and provides an incentive for people to beautify the areas.

[Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe]

What will the Government do about those councils that are slashing their budgets and their expenditure on plants and flower displays?

[Baroness Hanham]

My Lords, as I said in response to a previous question, that issue perhaps moves us on to the next Question. It is entirely up to each local authority to make its own decisions. If a council decides that it wants its borough or council area not to look very prepossessing and very nicely flowered and bushed, that is up to that council.