Cross-party support has paved the way for a government change of heart on reform of the 'Widdecombe rules' which limit the political role of senior council managers. The Local Government Information Unit welcomed an amendment to the Local Democracy, Economic Prosperity and Construction Bill, to scrap the controversial link between salary levels and senior posts which are deemed 'politically restricted'. Liberal Democrat and Conservative peers have backed calls for the reform and, although the Bill is still at the Committee stage in the House of Lords, local government minister, Baroness Andrews, has now promised to examine the drafting of an amendment to the legislation in time for the third reading.
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