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A healthy future in localism? Not for our rural town and parish councils A healthy future in localism? Not for our rural town and parish councils
(7 months later)
The countryside is revolting. It's official! Although the Commission for Rural Communities estimates that "19.1% of England's population live in rural areas" – almost 1 in 5 – it's as if the countryside is out of sight and out of mind.The countryside is revolting. It's official! Although the Commission for Rural Communities estimates that "19.1% of England's population live in rural areas" – almost 1 in 5 – it's as if the countryside is out of sight and out of mind.
According to the Rural Services Network, more than 30 MPs "have demanded a fairer share of government funding for rural local authorities." The issue of local government finance was debated in parliament on 11 February. Tony Cunningham (Labour, Workington) claimed this was "not a party political issue. Cumbria county council is controlled by Labour and Conservative councillors, and they think that the situation is unfair".According to the Rural Services Network, more than 30 MPs "have demanded a fairer share of government funding for rural local authorities." The issue of local government finance was debated in parliament on 11 February. Tony Cunningham (Labour, Workington) claimed this was "not a party political issue. Cumbria county council is controlled by Labour and Conservative councillors, and they think that the situation is unfair".
Meanwhile Geoffrey Cox (Conservative, Torridge and West Devon) painted an apocalyptic scene: "Local authorities such as Torridge district and West Devon borough [are] small, highly rural councils facing an existential threat from government's proposals". Over the next three years West Devon council "must take out £1.4m from a budget of £7.5m" – a 19% cut. It has saved £1.5m over three years, after already shaving off £2.5m by sharing backoffice services with South Hams district council. As Cox asked, where is the council to find the money?Meanwhile Geoffrey Cox (Conservative, Torridge and West Devon) painted an apocalyptic scene: "Local authorities such as Torridge district and West Devon borough [are] small, highly rural councils facing an existential threat from government's proposals". Over the next three years West Devon council "must take out £1.4m from a budget of £7.5m" – a 19% cut. It has saved £1.5m over three years, after already shaving off £2.5m by sharing backoffice services with South Hams district council. As Cox asked, where is the council to find the money?
There's an irony in all this, given that the two parties in power – Conservatives and Liberal Democrats – have their traditional heartland in the countryside. Financial woes are cascading down to the parish and town councils who, only a month back, communities secretary Eric Pickles lauded as localism's "magic wand".There's an irony in all this, given that the two parties in power – Conservatives and Liberal Democrats – have their traditional heartland in the countryside. Financial woes are cascading down to the parish and town councils who, only a month back, communities secretary Eric Pickles lauded as localism's "magic wand".
How are local authorities across the tiers, or their communities, to run services such as libraries, planning and economic regeneration, on a rapidly withering budget? Take the parishes: one in Cambridgeshire reports that as a result of a reduced council tax base its precept (local tax) will reduce by £19,524. This is the result of central government "localising council tax" – it strikes at the heart of local service funding and there is nothing the parishes can do about it.How are local authorities across the tiers, or their communities, to run services such as libraries, planning and economic regeneration, on a rapidly withering budget? Take the parishes: one in Cambridgeshire reports that as a result of a reduced council tax base its precept (local tax) will reduce by £19,524. This is the result of central government "localising council tax" – it strikes at the heart of local service funding and there is nothing the parishes can do about it.
"Our borough council has confirmed that we will receive an amount as a compensatory grant this year but I don't think there will be any grant forthcoming next year; this is the typical position in 2013," said a local councillor. Other authorities have considered not passing on the government grant for small councils at all. Swindon borough council has taken on the ultimate anti-localist stance, failing to pass on any grant to their parishes. Stratton St Margaret parish council's budget has haemorrhaged by £74,975.36 (or 9.10% of the tax base) as a result."Our borough council has confirmed that we will receive an amount as a compensatory grant this year but I don't think there will be any grant forthcoming next year; this is the typical position in 2013," said a local councillor. Other authorities have considered not passing on the government grant for small councils at all. Swindon borough council has taken on the ultimate anti-localist stance, failing to pass on any grant to their parishes. Stratton St Margaret parish council's budget has haemorrhaged by £74,975.36 (or 9.10% of the tax base) as a result.
With the government's own rural quango set to breathe its last at the end of March, leaving the London-based Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to deliver localism across England.With the government's own rural quango set to breathe its last at the end of March, leaving the London-based Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to deliver localism across England.
It is incredible that government is recommending and implementing a rural strategy that severs policy from practice. And like Pontius Pilate, it is washing its hands of the mess it has created via the Localism Act. If government is serious about encouraging localism and the community rights presented in the 2011 act, aren't parish and town councils given a share of business rates to finance big society activities?It is incredible that government is recommending and implementing a rural strategy that severs policy from practice. And like Pontius Pilate, it is washing its hands of the mess it has created via the Localism Act. If government is serious about encouraging localism and the community rights presented in the 2011 act, aren't parish and town councils given a share of business rates to finance big society activities?
The communities secretary is hobbling the ability of parish and town councils to foster rural community action. The words may be localist but government actions tend towards centralisation. Wasn't it ever thus?The communities secretary is hobbling the ability of parish and town councils to foster rural community action. The words may be localist but government actions tend towards centralisation. Wasn't it ever thus?
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