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

Senior Project Manager (Regeneration)

West Yorkshire Combined Authority
£49,359 to £56,057 per annum (pay award pending) – Grade 9
With ambitious goals ahead, we need dedicated individuals who are ready to make a real impact as part of our expanding Housing team Leeds / Hybrid
Recuriter: West Yorkshire Combined Authority

Information Governance Officer

Essex County Council
£28349.00 - £33351.00 per annum + pension
Information Governance OfficerPermanent, Full Time£28,349 to £33,351 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Information Governance Officer

Essex County Council
£28349.00 - £33351.00 per annum + pension
Information Governance OfficerFixed Term, Full Time£28,349 to £33,351 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

HR Advisor - Pay & Policy (Career Grade)

Wakefield Council
Grade 9 - Grade 10, Career Grade, 24 hours, Permanent
Are you ready to make a difference and shape policies that foster a high performing and inclusive workplace? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Leisure Support Assistant

Wakefield Council
£12,013.50 - £12,202.00, Grade 3, 18.5 hours, Permanent
Are You Ready to Make a Difference in Your Community? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner