They can serve as living proof that politicians are public-spirited individuals who wish to drive positive change for their communities.
“Taking back control” must also allow pioneering solutions to be tried out in local communities. Democracy is a process, not an event.
Disillusionment, anger, reduced turnout, a body blow to future social reform, and a possible boost to extremists are all potential consequences.
We have a civic duty to uphold and defend our collective natural inheritance. The planning system is not flawless but it has an important role.
We must ensure that, just as the UK voted Leave to take back control, local people take back control themselves.
The deadline is August 6th. While the role has yet to capture the public’s imagination, it has genuine power.
The cap for triggering referendums must now yield to popular consent to pay more in local charges to improve local services.
The council is making great strides with our health and voluntary sector partners. But the barriers to innovation imposed centrally must be lifted.
Rather than “one size fits all” directives from City Hall we must allow local communities to have the chance to innovate.
Far from being a loss to the community they are more often derelict buildings and surplus land which can be used for housing.
Half London’s homes are in buildings of just one or two floors. We could allow terraced houses to be split into maisonettes.
The public finds it hard to get excited about the structure of local government – they just want good quality, value for money, services delivered from accessible locations.
A switch to unitary authorities would save money and avoid confusion over the responsibility for different services.
Extolling the virtues of the Localism Act might not be a big vote winner of the doorstep – but the many achievements it has made possible are having an impact.
Ideas and vision are necessary, but they are not sufficient. People need to see results and to achieve them they need to take part.