Dan Peters Chris Mahony 26 April 2022

UK comes under pressure to adopt rights charter

UK comes under pressure to adopt rights charter image
Image: Monster Ztudio/Shutterstock.com.

Local leaders will continue to be ‘heavily constrained’ until the UK follows through on its promise to guarantee the rights of local government in law, a sector expert has warned.

The intervention from emeritus professor of local politics at De Montfort University, Colin Copus, came after levelling up minister Neil O’Brien said he was ‘not able to give a timeframe’ for when the additional protocol of the European Charter on Local Self-Government would be ratified – more than 12 years after the UK first signed the pledge.

A report by the 46-nation Council of Europe’s congress of local and regional authorities said the capacity of UK local authorities to ‘perform their tasks effectively is limited by over-regulation, rather heavy supervision by higher-level authorities and issues related to funding’.

The report said local authorities did not have ‘sufficiently prominent leadership and co-ordinating functions’ in relation to other service providers in their area and recommended council leaders should be given an overseeing role.

In an address to the congress, Mr O’Brien insisted the UK was already ‘compliant’ with the principles of the charter and admitted levelling up ‘can’t really succeed without us empowering local leadership’.

He added: ‘It’s hard to see, as you look around the world, examples of places that have turned round their economic fortunes without strong leadership being an important part of that story.’

However, Prof Copus said: ‘If the Government is honest about devolution and strengthening local leadership then it should act on the report’s recommendation to recognise local self-government in legislation, and start to remove controls, regulations and oversight of our councils.

To continue reading visit The MJ (£).

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

PRINCIPAL TRANSPORT PLANNING OFFICER

Hull City Council
£43693 - £46731
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced professional to join our team in Hull as a Principal Transport Planning Officer. Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire
Recuriter: Hull City Council

HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC ENGINEER - 4 POSTS

Hull City Council
£43693 - £46731
We have several exciting opportunities for suitably qualified Highways Civil Engineers and Traffic Engineers Wilson Centre, 1st floor, Hull HU1 2AG
Recuriter: Hull City Council

Strategic Director, Finance and Resources (S.151 Officer)

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
£110,799 - £120,706
Blackburn with Darwen is a distinctive, welcoming and vibrant borough with a strong identity and a genuine buzz about the place. Blackburn, Lancashire
Recuriter: Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Residential Worker, Edge of Care Service

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £29,093 - £32,654 PAY AWARD PENDING
Join a Groundbreaking Team Supporting Families in Seaham Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Bikeability Cycling Instructor

Durham County Council
Grade 4 £24,790 to £25,992 pro rata (Pay Award Pending)
The Road Safety Team are keen to recruit additional Casual Bikability Instructors to join our team of instructors delivering Bikeability cycle trainin Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner