I have now attended four LGA (Local Government Association) conferences. At each of these events, I have heard keynote speakers calling for greater devolution of power to local government. These speakers have been from each of the three main political parties. In a roundabout way, they have agreed with each other about localism – having decisions made as closely as possible to the people that they affect.
Given that so many politicians appear to agree with each other in front of an LGA audience, it is surprising that governments have maintained their enthusiasm for centralising power. Still worse, some powers are given to unelected quangos (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation). In the south east, regional planning, housing, economic and transport strategy is in the hands of the unelected SEEDA (South East England Development Agency). One can only suspect that government ministers, once away from an LGA audience, do not really trust councils to make key decisions or to spend their local government budget.
Local government is accountable to local people but has minimal tax-raising powers to meet the aspirations of its electorate. Most local authority income comes from central government grant and business rates, both of which are set nationally. Council Tax represents a small proportion of a local authority’s financial resources. In the case of Crawley Council, this means that a Council Tax rise of 1% brings in only £64,000 of additional income. This amount buys hardly anything at all especially with the threat of the government cutting its grant next year.
We need to see a rebalancing in the way that local government is funded. The proportion contributed from central government grant should be reduced which would also enable a cut in income tax. At the same time, the proportion contributed by Council Tax should be raised to improve local accountability. This would also enhance the power of councils to deliver more for their communities.
It is not just in financial terms that local government is emasculated. We see an increasing centralisation of policy making around housing numbers and their distribution. This was topped by a largely abortive attempt to foist so-called eco-towns on unwilling local communities. There was always a fear that the eco-town housing numbers would be over and above those already forced on us through central government. The government probably thought that eco-town was a great public relations term when they should have been focused on retrofitting energy saving measures into our existing housing stock.
There is much concern about the low turnout in local elections but this is hardly surprising when local councils are so disempowered. A clear message must go out to Members of Parliament. If you want to nurture local democracy, you must empower local councils and communities and not just talk about it at an LGA conference. Cut down the regulation of local authorities and show us some more trust. Get your tanks off our lawn.
Councillor Bob Lanzer, Leader of Crawley Borough Council
19th August 2009