Lord Heseltine’s cities task force submission to the shadow cabinet Cities renaissance: Creating local leadership has put the spotlight back on Conservative policies for local government.
While the submission is not Conservative Party policy, it is interesting to note leader David Cameron’s comments in relation to it.
He welcomed and wished to develop:
l slashing of unaccountable regional bureaucracies
l the creation of new tools for local government – including bond finance
l greater freedom over how local councils spend their money.
So, what are Tory policies in relation to national/local government relations? As we know, Conservative policies are still being developed, but I believe we have a clear steer on the direction they are heading.
First, we know Mr Cameron takes a close interest in Conservative local government. He keeps watch on weekly local government by-election results. And he is speaking at the LGA annual conference in Birmingham. This will be the second year he has spoken at the conference. He is also a regular speaker at major Conservative local government events.
In addition, Mr Cameron is trying to make communications between the Conservative parliamentary party and local councillors a key issue, with new structures to reinforce them.
At the same time, Conservative councillors are receiving excellent help from shadow ministers Caroline Spelman and Eric Pickles. Their support is strong and they put a great deal of time into their contacts with Conservative local government. They are prepared to go out of their way to meet Conservative councillors in any part of the country.
With so many of us dedicated to supplying the best services we can, the Conservative policies relating to quality of life are important. As a result of those policies, I believe we can see a future of close working between a Conservative Government and local government as the quality of services becomes a major issue.
Indeed, we have already seen major improvements in council services in relation to the environment under the aegis of my MP, Peter Ainsworth, shadow secretary of state for the environment.
Giving residents a choice over the level of services that are provided, something we already practise in Tandridge, will be a key part of the development of quality service delivery.
As even this Labour Government appears to be drawing a line under its local government reorganisation schemes, we must all hope local government will have a chance to stabilise as we move away from the sterile debate on form and concentrate on function.
Any changes by a Conservative Government to current local government structures will be related to the demolition of regional government and the return of powers to local government. The shadow team is also aware that new functions cannot be given to local government unless they are accompanied by adequate finance. Not just adequate finance but also greater freedom of funding for local government.
The Conservatives have promised a move towards a simple block grant and away from the current centrally micro-managed web of ring-fencing and specific grants.
Mr Cameron has undertaken to scrap the Best Value and Comprehensive Area Assessments – son of CPA. He wants an end to the box-ticking culture. At last, we shall be able to concentrate as councillors on what local people want, rather than the detailed demands of central government.
It is encouraging that Mr Cameron is concentrating on bottom-up social responsibility compared with the current Government’s possession with central control. With the focus on the contribution the individual makes to the wealth and wellbeing of the nation, the Conservatives are laying the ground for strong local government – with the emphasis on ‘local’.
One of the clearest indications that the future of greater freedom for local government would be strong under a Conservative Government is the promise that councils will be able to adopt the committee system, if they so wish.
Note that there is no requirement to do so. This is the approach of a party which wants to see a flourishing local government free to take its own decisions.
As Mr Cameron has said: ‘All those who want to centralise are wrong. We need to get power as close as possible to the people.’ n
Gordon Keymer is leader of Tandridge DC and a candidate to succeed Lord Bruce-Lockhart as chairman of the LGA
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