The Conservatives have said they would sweep away the present planning system and replace it with one based on financial rewards for localities that accept new development.
Wandsworth is again ready to boast the lowest council tax in the UK for an average Band D property after proposing a freeze for the third year. Deputy council leader Maurice Heaster said the councils low tax record should serve as a benchmark for national government.
The first reports from 13 pilot projects provide a wealth of data. One thing is clear: public services focus too much on symptoms and too little on causes. The 13 pilots, launched last July, are now reporting their findings back to the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Millions of pounds can be slashed from Westminster’s 2bn public services bill through greater collaboration, according to a council report. Police, health and council services should be brought together ?under one roof?, according to Westminster City Council Total Place-style report analysing public expenditure in the borough.
Labour is planning to rebrand one of its local authorities as Britain’s first “John Lewis council”, offering council tax rebates to residents in exchange for helping to run services, in a direct challenge to the Conservatives’ pioneering “easyCouncil”.
A “dimmer switch” that will control an entire city’s steetlamps is being introduced in an attempt to allow lighting to respond to the needs of the public at the cost of 250 million.
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Councils yesterday stepped up opposition to the Governments promise of free care at home for the elderly. The surprise pledge made by Gordon Brown last year was criticised for cutting across efforts to find a way of funding elderly care, which have sparked fury by raising the prospect of a so-called death tax.
The Tories have renewed a pledge to give public sector workers the chance to form co-operatives to run services. Staff of taxpayer-funded services, such as primary school teachers and nurses, would decide how they were run – within certain national standards.
Last week at a Localis debate about the future of local government regulation, shadow local government secretary Caroline Spelman played down concerns about localism in health leading to postcode lottery accusations.