Poll: should transport spending be devolved to local government?
Author: Sarah Marsh, the Guardian |
Analysis by the thinktank Localis has found that putting local authorities in charge of transport spending would lead to a better return on investment in infrastructure.
The report, commissioned by the Local Government Association (LGA), concluded that locally-developed transport schemes achieve 2.5 times the return on typical investments, and recommended the government should consider abolishing the Highways Agency.
Around £1.2bn, or 10% of public sector transport spending, is given to councils today, but Localis argues that all local transport funding should be rolled up into a single pot.
Localis chief executive Alex Thomson said:
“The report highlights some of the alternatives to a centralised transport system, with Europe far in advance of the UK in this respect. On the continent, transport devolution is seen as a given. The current government has been very positive in pursuing a localism agenda across a number of policy areas, and it is time they extended this approach to transport.”
Last month MPs called for more scrutiny over how local authorities invest in transport. The public accounts select committee warned that local transport bodies were “under severe financial pressure” which could lead to poor decisions on spending.
So what do you think? Is there enough evidence that local authority spending on transport can bring bigger returns? Should local government take on responsibility for transport despite straitened times?
Vote now in our poll.