Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to exercise his oversight role in relation to the North East Combined Authority and its scrutiny arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

The Order setting up the combined authority requires that authority to have one or more overview and scrutiny committees.

We have written to the councils concerned making clear we expect their combined authority to follow best practice on scrutiny, including that the membership of scrutiny committees should reflect the political balance of the councils. The letter can be found online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-to-leaders-of-the-combined-authority-for-the-area-of-durham-northumberland-and-tyne-and-wear

We have also consulted recently on proposals to make it a legislative requirement for a combined authority's scrutiny committee to be balanced in this way. The consultation closed on 24 June and we are now considering the responses. The consultation is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposals-to-amend-legislation-relating-to-combined-authorities-and-economic-prosperity-boards.