Essex CC has officially submitted plans to use the Sustainable Communities Act to seize powers from unelected quangos. The proposals will be given to the Local Government Association which will shortlist proposals from councils nationwide and pass a shortlist of frontrunners to the communities secretary for approval.
Council chiefs paid as much as £240,000 a year face the axe under a Conservative government, after a senior Tory said the position of council chief executive should be abolished.
This consultation explores whether local government has the powers it needs to meet today’s challenges, as part of the Government’s drive to renew Britain’s democracy and build trust in the political system at all levels. It sets out a range of proposals to promote democratic renewal and strengthen the power and responsibility of local government.
From today, businesses in England are able to apply to their local council to defer part of their 2009-10 business rates bills. Councils are sending out a one-page application form with details of how to apply for this scheme and small business rate relief to every ratepayer in England.
This consultation seeks views from consultees on the Government’s detailed proposals for the introduction of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), including draft regulations.
Motorists could see delays cut drastically as councils are given powers by the Department for Transport to say when roadworks are carried out. Utility companies are also being targetted in the plans.
The government has unveiled details of the sub-regions into which councils will be grouped to receive money from its flagship economic growth programme.
The final list of themes for each of the 13 Total Place pilots has been confirmed by the Departure for Communities & Local Government. The 13 will examine the totality of public spending in a range of different service areas with a view to cutting duplication, saving money and improving service delivery.
Home owners face paying more council tax simply for enjoying nice views or having a patio or off-street parking. Officials have secretly assessed more than 11million homes for ‘desirable features’ as Labour prepares for a revaluation of council tax after a General Election. Ministers admit the Valuation Office Agency is building a huge database of all 23million homes in England.
The think tank Localis have produced a paper on the theme Revitalising Local Democracy: Ideas for improving turnout and participation. I contributed a piece (not with a big idea but a shopping list of small ideas), as did Ken Richie, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society. But I was most struck by the suggestion from the third contributor Peter Facey, Director of Unlock Democracy, that Councils should have referenda more often.