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| Councils to get fresh law powers | Councils to get fresh law powers |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| English councils will get the power to bring in bylaws with fixed penalties without Whitehall approval under plans to increase local communities' powers. | English councils will get the power to bring in bylaws with fixed penalties without Whitehall approval under plans to increase local communities' powers. |
| The proposed shake-up would bring in more mayors and elected leaders, with police, health and education bosses to face greater scrutiny from the public. | The proposed shake-up would bring in more mayors and elected leaders, with police, health and education bosses to face greater scrutiny from the public. |
| Local inquiries on issues such as hospital closures and drug dealing could begin if there was public demand. | Local inquiries on issues such as hospital closures and drug dealing could begin if there was public demand. |
| Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said councils must be community "champions". | Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly said councils must be community "champions". |
| Targets cut | Targets cut |
| The government's White Paper comes during the comprehensive review of local government finance, led by Sir Michael Lyons. He is due to report to ministers in December. | The government's White Paper comes during the comprehensive review of local government finance, led by Sir Michael Lyons. He is due to report to ministers in December. |
| Ms Kelly told the Commons that 1,200 national targets and indicators for local government would be cut to 200 indicators and 35 targets. | Ms Kelly told the Commons that 1,200 national targets and indicators for local government would be cut to 200 indicators and 35 targets. |
| KEY PROPOSALS Councils can create bylaws with fixed penalty notices, without needing central government approvalGiving council committees more power to review actions of public bodies, such as police and hospitalsMore councils to have directly elected mayor or chief councillor'Short window of opportunity' to allow some councils to become unitary authorities (in charge of all local services)Good parish councils to get 'general power of well-being', to promote social, economic and environmental improvementsSlash number of government targets for councils | |
| She said the plans were a "community call for action", adding: "We will focus upon things that really matter to people everywhere." | She said the plans were a "community call for action", adding: "We will focus upon things that really matter to people everywhere." |
| Ms Kelly added: "Our clear, overriding principle is that the greater the powers devolved, the greater the role of strong, clear leadership." | Ms Kelly added: "Our clear, overriding principle is that the greater the powers devolved, the greater the role of strong, clear leadership." |
| Local people had to be consulted on all important issues, she said. | Local people had to be consulted on all important issues, she said. |
| More voters would get the chance to elect their own mayor or executive councillor, Ms Kelly added. | More voters would get the chance to elect their own mayor or executive councillor, Ms Kelly added. |
| Alternatively, council members could choose a leader with a "clear mandate" every four years. | Alternatively, council members could choose a leader with a "clear mandate" every four years. |
| But for the Conservatives the shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman said: "These localist policies are not worth the paper they are written on." | But for the Conservatives the shadow communities secretary Caroline Spelman said: "These localist policies are not worth the paper they are written on." |
| She added that there was confusion "between a failed regional agenda and a real local agenda", labelling the proposals "toothless". | She added that there was confusion "between a failed regional agenda and a real local agenda", labelling the proposals "toothless". |
| HAVE YOUR SAY We don't need more local government, we just need a better government Andrew Smith, Leeds Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY We don't need more local government, we just need a better government Andrew Smith, Leeds Send us your comments |
| Liberal Democrat Andrew Stunell said the public had a sense of "anger and apathy" caused by alienation from government. | Liberal Democrat Andrew Stunell said the public had a sense of "anger and apathy" caused by alienation from government. |
| The reforms needed to go further and change the council tax system, he added, saying: "This White Paper is a completely wasted opportunity. There's no transfer of powers or money from Whitehall to town halls." | The reforms needed to go further and change the council tax system, he added, saying: "This White Paper is a completely wasted opportunity. There's no transfer of powers or money from Whitehall to town halls." |
| Ms Kelly earlier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Rather than the government having to approve every single local bylaw, it should be local people that decide whether they want a particular law tackling anti-social behaviour." | Ms Kelly earlier told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Rather than the government having to approve every single local bylaw, it should be local people that decide whether they want a particular law tackling anti-social behaviour." |
| 'Rhetoric or reality' | 'Rhetoric or reality' |
| People should be "able to go out and impose an instant fine if someone breaks that", she said. | People should be "able to go out and impose an instant fine if someone breaks that", she said. |
| In Wales, powers would be handed over to the national assembly. | In Wales, powers would be handed over to the national assembly. |
| EXISTING ENGLISH COUNCIL POWERS Funding: Revenues come from a locally-set council tax, rates for businesses, government grants and other areas such as parking ticketsPublic spaces: Authorities oversee street-cleaning and maintenance of roads, pavements, parks and gardensEducation: Services such as school and libraries are provided by councilsWelfare: They deal with housing provision and other social services such as meals-on-wheelsBusinesses: Councils ensure food safety and trading standards are maintainedDisruption: Anti-social behaviour, noise and litter are all tackled at a local levelBuildings: Authorities also grant permission for planning applications and set regulations for work on property | EXISTING ENGLISH COUNCIL POWERS Funding: Revenues come from a locally-set council tax, rates for businesses, government grants and other areas such as parking ticketsPublic spaces: Authorities oversee street-cleaning and maintenance of roads, pavements, parks and gardensEducation: Services such as school and libraries are provided by councilsWelfare: They deal with housing provision and other social services such as meals-on-wheelsBusinesses: Councils ensure food safety and trading standards are maintainedDisruption: Anti-social behaviour, noise and litter are all tackled at a local levelBuildings: Authorities also grant permission for planning applications and set regulations for work on property |
| Tory peer Lord Bruce-Lockhart, who chairs the Local Government Association, said the White Paper was "encouraging" and took "significant steps on local leadership, deregulation and cutting red tape". | Tory peer Lord Bruce-Lockhart, who chairs the Local Government Association, said the White Paper was "encouraging" and took "significant steps on local leadership, deregulation and cutting red tape". |
| He added: "We need to see the full extent of the powers in transport, planning, housing, skills, welfare, and economic development which are actually going to be devolved from regional and national government to councils. | He added: "We need to see the full extent of the powers in transport, planning, housing, skills, welfare, and economic development which are actually going to be devolved from regional and national government to councils. |
| "This, together with the ability for councils to retain more of the taxes already raised locally, will turn the rhetoric of devolution into reality." | "This, together with the ability for councils to retain more of the taxes already raised locally, will turn the rhetoric of devolution into reality." |
| Sir Jeremy Beecham, Labour's leader on the association, claimed local authorities spent too much time reporting to the government, rather than their residents. | Sir Jeremy Beecham, Labour's leader on the association, claimed local authorities spent too much time reporting to the government, rather than their residents. |
| The White Paper proposed a "welcome change" in the relationship between central and local government, he said. | The White Paper proposed a "welcome change" in the relationship between central and local government, he said. |
| Meanwhile Dermot Finch, of the Centre for Cities research unit, said towns and cities should get more power to raise and spend business tax locally to invest in transport and skills. | Meanwhile Dermot Finch, of the Centre for Cities research unit, said towns and cities should get more power to raise and spend business tax locally to invest in transport and skills. |