Only a radical overhaul of the current funding system will help to recover an overcentralised country, and the main political parties need the courage to take steps to make local government independent again
English councils spending rose by £10bn to £154bn in 2007-08, according to a National Statistics publication. The annual Local Government Financial Statistics showed three-fifths of gross income in 2007-08 came from central government, a fifth of it from redistributed non-domestic rates
Government has failed to deliver a bold devolution of powers to local authorities, with Whitehall and Westminster slowing moves to localism, the local government minister John Healey has admitted
Almost 60% of lower-tier authorities felt the governments new target for local government to make £5.5bn of efficiency savings by the end of 2010-11 was unachievable, according Localis
Local government minister John Healey has warned councils to get a grip on the number of councillors receiving additional allowances. He added that there was no evidence of abuse however.
Confusion over the failings of the current social care system and a reluctance to look after elderly relatives could hamper public debate on the governments impending Green Paper, a survey has warned
Len Collinson, leader of Private Sector Partners which represents 100,000 firms in the region, said the government’s decision to put the partnership between 10 Greater Manchester authorities on a statutory footing, ?risked undermining 10 years’ hard work on the north-west region’s economy?
The chief executive of a London borough says radical new thinking is needed as the authority looks to savings of £50m up to 2014. Brents Gareth Daniel told senior managers that the economic outlook for local government was tough as the sector came to the end of an era of year-on-year spending growth. “That particular party is very definitely over, but a harsh financial climate is no excuse for poor services or a lack of ambition.
Four of Britains biggest city councils have called on the government to introduce a revolutionary scheme that would let them raise billions of pounds for regeneration schemes on the back of future tax revenue.
David Cameron pledges to deliver the most dramatic redistribution of power in living memory as he attempts to deal with the concerns of voters left disgusted by the row over MPs’ expenses. In a broad-ranging article in the Guardian, Cameron declares that he would trim back the powers of the prime minister and boost the role of parliament to win back public confidence.