The Localism Bill is studded with populist gesture politics and the obsessions of the secretary of state, according to the former chairman of the Local Government Association, Lord Jeremy Beecham.

Speaking at the second reading of the Bill in the House of Lords yesterday, Lord Beecham cited banning charge and reward schemes for waste, and chief executive pay as two areas of the legislation based on Eric Pickles prejudices, rather than a real need for law.