Localis has welcomed with open arms many of the coalition governments policies to decentralise power to local government and communities. But without genuinely rebalancing the control of finances between central and local government, the governments commitment to decentralise power will only go so far.
Alex Thomson, Chief Executive of Localis, has given evidence to the Localism Bill Committee.
The governments flagship Localism Bill will receive its first dose of parliamentary scrutiny this afternoon when MPs debate the details.
Elected police commisioners are to be welcomed. The current system doesn’t work, policing lacks local accountability, and it’s time that local people had a real say over the policing in their area.
Following the excitement and rumour surrounding the release of the local government finance settlement last month, 2011 will be the year when the actual impact of funding cuts to councils, rather than often unsubstantiated speculation, will take centre-stage.
Localis has produced a report based on a survey of a quarter of finance heads in local councils on the local government settlement.
The Localism Bill represents a massive leap forward in the Government’s plan to transfer power away from the centre to councils and beyond, although the local government finance settlement has dealt a difficult hand to local authorities
Local authorities and some town and parish councils are to get a general power of competence, under plans set out in the delayed Localism Bill.
In advance of the long-awaited publication of the Localism Bill, there have been some strong indications as to what to expect from the Bill
75% of Council financial heads are exploring options to merge services with other local authorities or outsource service delivery to external organisations, according to a survey of local governmnent Finance Directors conducted by Localis, the localism thinktank.