Eric Pickles isn't the only localist in the cabinet. Here is what Transport Secretary Philip Hammond told the Conservative Conference: Well, what I have inherited at the Department for Transport is a system which is truly a monument to Gordon Brown's tenure at the Treasury. Something the Soviets would have been proud of. A top-down […]
By Tim Montgomerie One of the great problems in the fight against poverty and dysfunctionality is that the right hand of government often doesn't know what the left hand is doing. Different agencies of local, central and quangocratic government are relating to the same disadvantaged households with no coordination. Eric Pickles tells Tory Conference this […]
Alex Thomson, the Chief Executive for Localis, on their line up for next week Conference is upon us and that can only mean one thing, or rather two things – alcohol and fringe events. The bad news is that it’s no champagne for the second year in a row, despite the election result. The good […]
One of the reasons why Eric Pickles has been so radical as Communities Secretary could be that when it comes to localism the Lib Dems are not acting as a drag but pressing him to go further. The motion they passed on localism included the following section: Moving towards financial autonomy for local government – […]
Alex Thomson, the Chief Executive of Localis says councils should be able to keep the BusinessRates. We want have really localism when only a quarter of a Council's budget is raised locally Localism hasn’t always been sexy. During the two years I worked for the Conservative Party drawing up their policies on localism, or decentralisation […]
Cllr Brian Connell, the Cabinet Member for Business, Enterprise and Skills on Westminster City Council says each council needs are different Last week Eric Pickles used his regular contribution to ConHome to explain how the Government’s abolition of Regional Development Agencies will help rebuild our fragile economy. He is right to prioritise local solutions to […]
I find it rather hard keeping up with the Communities Secretary Eric Pickles. With parliament back he offered a Written Statement updating MPs on what had happened in the recess which offeres a useful summary. It is as follows: I would like to update hon. Members, at the earliest opportunity, on the main items of […]
In the current issue Municipal Journal two Labour leadership contenders, Andy Burnham and David Miliband set out their stalls. David Miliband says: I am being backed by more than 100 Labour councils and Labour group leaders in major towns and cities across the UK, including Birmingham, Newcastle, Norwich, Bolton, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Peterborough, Scarborough, Sunderland, Telford […]
Dominique Lazanski says ring fenced funding causes money to be wasted – for instance with huge spending on websites Medway Council has spent nearly £250,000 on a new website, it has been reported. The new council website is set to launch in November and the council hopes that use of the website will facilitate easier and […]
Cllr Colin Barrow, leader of Westminster City Council, concludes his series on Founcation Councils by looking at incentives for delivering good results Over the last week, I have outlined the concept of Foundation Councils and the sort of areas where I believe such empowered local authorities could make a real difference including realising year on year […]
Cllr Colin Barrow, the leader of Westminster City Council, on how Foundation Councils could help fight crime Earlier this week, I set out the concept of Foundation Councils and the sort of general powers and freedoms that such authorities should have. I am now detailing a number of specific proposals and areas where Foundation Councils […]
Cllr Colin Barrow, the leader of Westminster City Council, on how Foundation Councils could help defeat the dependency culture Over the last two days I set out the concept of Foundation Councils and the sort of general powers and freedoms that such authorities should have. I now want to detail a number of specific proposals […]
Cllr Colin Barrow, the leader of Westminster City Council, outlines the extra powers that would be handed down to the Foundation Councils idea that he introduced yesterday. Foundation councils would be given a number of additional freedoms and powers. Power to set local fees and charges Foundation councils would be given the freedom to set […]
Cllr Colin Barrow, the leader of Westminster City Council, starts a series of article outling proposals for Foundation Councils Councils are hampered in their ability to innovate and provide good quality low cost services by three factors: An onerous, centrally-imposed performance framework – despite the welcome end of the CAA and Audit Commission, we still have […]
Localism is a big idea. It also a good idea. However not a new idea. Here is Enoch Powell speaking during the Second Reading of the National Health Service Reorganisation Bill in 1973. He was stating the case against centralising measures for the health service. But the three objections he raised have a ratherontemporary feel, […]