‘Big government’ under attack
Author: Public Finance - Nov 12, 2009
Localis and KPMG have recommended that councils cull spending by 20% by 2011 through doing less, outsourcing more and becoming more financially innovative.
As they did so, Conservative leader David Cameron launched a sustained attack on ‘big government’, championing outsourcing to individuals and local providers.
The bottom line: a vision for local government was published jointly by Localis and management consultancy KPMG on November 9.
It set out a vision of councils working as ‘commissioning and procurement hubs’, arguing that a 20% cut in expenditure was feasible, but only through ‘fundamentally reassessing the services councils provide’.
The report called on authorities to manage their estates better, evaluate all services against cost, and immediately stop all ‘marginally beneficial’ services.
No examples were given of services that might fall into that category. However, the study listed swimming pools and libraries as ‘extra’ services that councils are not required by law to run. It said these could be operated more effectively by businesses, social enterprises and charities.
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- "Localis is fast gaining a reputation for pre-empting the localist agenda, producing thought provoking research and practical policy ideas"Anthony Seldon, author and political commentator
- "Localis’ commitment to decentralisation crosses party boundaries, and their research illuminates policy problems with new practical thinking"Prof George Jones, LSE
- "Localis offers a great blend of a passion for innovation, grounded practical ideas and unswerving belief in the possibilities of local governance"Derek Myers, Chief Executive, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
