Place Survey ditched
Author: Local Government Chronicle |
The Place Survey is to be scrapped as ministers make a further bid to ?release councils from Whitehall control?, local government minister Grant Shapps has announced.
The news follows LGC revealing the survey was in line for the axe back in June.
The postal questionnaire, which was introduced in 2008 and estimated to cost more than 5m to run, was due to be conducted by every council in England this autumn.
Results have previously been used to measure councils’ performance on a range of centrally-imposed indicators.
Mr Shapps said: ?These surveys are a cosmetic exercise which never change anything. Let’s give real power back to the people ? such as letting taxpayers veto high council tax rises.?
The move will be welcomed by the Local Government Association, which has lobbied for its abolition.
The demise of the Place Survey follows communities secretary Eric Pickles swiftly acting to ditch the Comprehensive Area Assessments just a month into the new government.