Flexing our municipal muscle

November 7, 2006

Chris Leslie, Director, NLGN
House Magazine

The publication of the local government White Paper marks a cautious but gradual shift in real decentralisation and devolution from central government. ‘Localism’ is apparently one of the few areas of consensus in Westminster, but there is a crucial difference between political leaders paying lip service to its aims and releasing real power from SW1 to local communities. The White Paper gives one of the strongest hints from the Government that they are willing to radically cede power, although it concentrates mostly on governance rather than the financial questions currently sitting with the Lyons Inquiry.



The document however does offer a significantly encouraging direction of travel. When New Local Government Network proposed this summer that there should be an option for a directly-elected Executive to supplement the directly-elected Mayoral arrangements, we argued for a way to overcome concerns about the concentration of power in one person’s hands, creating an alternative broader vehicle for a strong mandate from residents. It is good news, therefore, that the Government have adopted this strategy. The experience of elected Mayors has shown that there are real advantages, especially in economic development, that flow from the authority of direct election and the clarity of four year terms in office. The Prime Minister has recently shown renewed enthusiasm for elected Mayors and the new legislation should ensure that there should be no excuses for weak or drifting local leadership anymore.



The Paper also steers the correct course on city regions, choosing a voluntary approach driven by local government itself rather than imposing a Whitehall model on city regions. By focusing on the tools needed to build economic prosperity and deciding to align thinking with the work of Regional Development Agencies, I am glad that the Comprehensive Spending Review process will be charged with ensuring no area is left behind. This is very much in line with approach taken in the NLGN pamphlet Evolution & Devolution in England authored in July 2006.



In helping to clarify the role for councillors outside the executive, this White Paper opens a world of new opportunities for democratic accountability across all local public services, giving neighbourhood representatives a real chance to fight for their constituents. Combining these extended scrutiny powers with opportunities for individual councillor budgets, new rights through the ‘Community Call To Action’ and autonomy over local byelaws should make the role of councillor more attractive, but could also demand more councillor activism.



Furthermore, slashing targets and moving to the new Comprehensive Area Assessment will be a maturing step for local government, a shift that should drive better outcomes although this will depend on other incentives and pressures. There remain other ways in which the local government family could adopt a greater role in policing mutual performance.



The implications of the White Paper should be felt keenly not just through local government but Westminster and Whitehall also. It has set a new direction of real devolution and greater powers for local communities, a realism that all political parties – including a new Prime Minister – will have to recognise.


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