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
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.
The severity of local government cuts announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review came as a shock to half of council finance directors, while almost all have denounced the front-loading, a survey shows.
New planning laws will give neighbourhoods more influence over the kind of developments they want in their areas, it has been revealed.
Councils are to be put in charge of encouraging healthier lifestyles under plans to be unveiled by ministers.
The forthcoming Localism and Decentralisation Bill will contain measures to help councils stimulate local growth through business rates, Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles announced today.
Greg Clark, Minister for Decentralisation, gave a speech at Localis in which he outlined the government’s plans for a less confrontational and more locally shaped planning system.
The government is planning to use a happiness index to steer government policy, a move Localis has advocated in past publications including ‘Small State, Big Society’
In a consultation launched yesterday, the Department for Communities and Local Government suggested giving councils the power to recover the true costs of processing planning applications by varying their fees.