The local government White Paper faces a delay due to the turmoil of the Government and plans to re-group after the local elections.
Strategy plans surrounding the whole direction of the Government have meant the White Paper has had to be reconsidered in light of the political push to get the PM back on track.
The delay comes as communities and local government secretary, Hazel Blears, has started to unveil the first hints of what might be in the pipeline for local government – amid deep scepticism for the sector as a whole – and the Government published its draft Queen’s Speech.
Under the new timetable, the White Paper should be announced in mid-July, rather then June, as was previously expected.
The prime minister trailed the Queen’s Speech in a draft version this week, allowing a consultation period before the final version is launched in the autumn.
The local government White Paper is expected to include transfer of assets to local control and community empowerment. Recommendations from the Councillors’ Commission will also feature, including a duty on councils to promote democracy and measures to encourage a more diverse and representative range of candidates to stand for election.
Directly-elected mayors are also expected to be back on the agenda. Despite the failure of local government to grasp the mayoral agenda in the past, Ms Blears is expected to continue to push the issue with either the carrot of more powers mayors, or the stick of enforced referenda. A move to all-out elections has also been mooted by local government insiders. While it is thought to be under discussion, it is by no means certain to get into the final draft of bill.
Speaking at a Social Market Foundation conference this week, Ms Blears committed to transferring assets to community control, empowering local communities, and making political structures more accessible to people – including making the cabinet meet in the regions rather than at Number 10.
Ms Blears said: ‘Just imagine if the cabinet meeting took place in the British Legion, Swindon, the Town Hall, Grimsby, or the Victoria Community Centre in Crewe. There is no good reason why not.’
One local government insider called on the Government to use ‘existing seats of democracy’ in cities such as Manchester or Birmingham before heading to community centres. ‘Let’s show councillors we recognise their role before we start by-passing them,’ he added.
Speaking at a central London conference alongside Ms Blears today, LGIU director, Andy Sawford, is calling for the Government to go ‘further and faster to empower councillors’.
He calls for a ‘new model of local accountability and decision-making’ in police services by channelling funding for the police through local government. Councils will then commission services from the police and other service providers.
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