This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/jul/09/tory-councils-fight-eric-pickles

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
When will Tory councils stand up and fight Eric Pickles? When will Tory councils stand up and fight Eric Pickles?
(2 months later)
"Citizens should be large and the state small." The self-parody from local government secretary Eric Pickles, music to the ears of an admiring chancellor, has a brutal honesty. It underlines a prevailing view: the savage onslaught on England's councils is not necessarily borne of the necessities of austerity."Citizens should be large and the state small." The self-parody from local government secretary Eric Pickles, music to the ears of an admiring chancellor, has a brutal honesty. It underlines a prevailing view: the savage onslaught on England's councils is not necessarily borne of the necessities of austerity.
Rather, it is hard to disagree with those who see local government in the frontline of the hard-right battle to slim down the state, no matter what the consequences for town halls – casually ignored by Pickles in his attack on "doom mongers" at last week's Local Government Association's annual conference.Rather, it is hard to disagree with those who see local government in the frontline of the hard-right battle to slim down the state, no matter what the consequences for town halls – casually ignored by Pickles in his attack on "doom mongers" at last week's Local Government Association's annual conference.
Strutting the stage of Manchester's Convention Centre with the frivolity of a standup comic, Pickles called on councils to redesign services from scratch, with a detachment that might be laughable if it wasn't so serious. What on earth are councils already doing? They will have shouldered £7.6bn of cuts by 2015 – a quarter of budgets – and face more of the same in two years' time, leading to a £14.4bn shortfall by 2020, according to LGA projections. What's the strategy if, and when, a large council goes bust? As the National Audit Office has cautioned, alarmingly, there isn't one. Ministers are in denial.Strutting the stage of Manchester's Convention Centre with the frivolity of a standup comic, Pickles called on councils to redesign services from scratch, with a detachment that might be laughable if it wasn't so serious. What on earth are councils already doing? They will have shouldered £7.6bn of cuts by 2015 – a quarter of budgets – and face more of the same in two years' time, leading to a £14.4bn shortfall by 2020, according to LGA projections. What's the strategy if, and when, a large council goes bust? As the National Audit Office has cautioned, alarmingly, there isn't one. Ministers are in denial.
Pickles, and we assume George Osborne, is not impressed with the LGA's case for giving councils more financial freedom. Disingenuously, he says they are free to raise council tax – as long as they get approval from local electors in a centrally directed referendum.Pickles, and we assume George Osborne, is not impressed with the LGA's case for giving councils more financial freedom. Disingenuously, he says they are free to raise council tax – as long as they get approval from local electors in a centrally directed referendum.
Independent experts, such as the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies, are not impressed. Its director, Paul Johnson, says: "We need an effective property tax and … a robust source of local funding for local government. This continuing [council tax] policy looks like undermining both."Independent experts, such as the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies, are not impressed. Its director, Paul Johnson, says: "We need an effective property tax and … a robust source of local funding for local government. This continuing [council tax] policy looks like undermining both."
With the impact of cutbacks now visible throughout the country – potholed roads, overgrown parks, boarded-up swimming pools, libraries, leisure centres and even the odd abandoned athletics stadium – you might wonder what happened to the official opposition.With the impact of cutbacks now visible throughout the country – potholed roads, overgrown parks, boarded-up swimming pools, libraries, leisure centres and even the odd abandoned athletics stadium – you might wonder what happened to the official opposition.
On the day Lord Heseltine urged councils to stand up and fight to make their voice heard, shadow communities and local government secretary Hilary Benn was noticeably more cautious. Of course Labour wants to embed "localism" in communities – but, then, so did David Cameron in opposition.On the day Lord Heseltine urged councils to stand up and fight to make their voice heard, shadow communities and local government secretary Hilary Benn was noticeably more cautious. Of course Labour wants to embed "localism" in communities – but, then, so did David Cameron in opposition.
England is crying out for a rational debate on the role of town halls in a well-functioning democracy, where innovative and financially self-sustaining local government should provide a check and balance on an over-mighty centre. Councils urgently need legal protection, with financial rights and responsibilities, in a country without a written constitution.England is crying out for a rational debate on the role of town halls in a well-functioning democracy, where innovative and financially self-sustaining local government should provide a check and balance on an over-mighty centre. Councils urgently need legal protection, with financial rights and responsibilities, in a country without a written constitution.
As it is, Pickles and Osborne can see no further than an election in two years' time. By then will Tory councils, often privately incensed by Pickles, take Lord Heseltine's advice to stand up and fight?As it is, Pickles and Osborne can see no further than an election in two years' time. By then will Tory councils, often privately incensed by Pickles, take Lord Heseltine's advice to stand up and fight?
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.