CEMR back UK Parliament Report

Radical reforms must rebalance power between central and local government, according to the UK's cross-party Select Committee on Communities and Local Government.

The report, The Balance of Power: Central and Local Government, released recently calls for a wholesale change across central government if communities are to gain the benefits of greater power being handed over to local government.

"We are still a long way from an equitable and healthy balance of power between central and local government in this country," said Chair of the CLG Committee Dr Phyllis Starkey as she launched the report.

"Central government must take radical steps to tilt the balance of power towards localities, and local government must become more ambitious.

"Whilst we fully accept that the Government should set strong national strategic goals, it should also pay much greater heed to the benefits of local autonomy."

She added: "Given the extent to which communities differ, local authorities should have the flexibility, whilst respecting reasonable national minimum standards, to vary their priorities to better reflect local aspirations."

Although focused on England, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) has welcomed the report.

Jeremy Smith, Secretary general of the CEMR, who gave evidence to the committee said: "The UK has for a long time had one of the most centralist systems of government in Europe, so I warmly welcome this report by a committee of experienced members of Parliament.

"The European Charter, ratified by the UK in 1988, requires that the principle of local self-government should be recognised in the law or constitution, but so far the British government has failed to do so. In the long-run, central as well as local government will be strengthened by these measures."

Key recommendations include:

• Cultural change at a ministerial level
• Local councils to be empowered to assimilate policing, health and healthcare services into their strategic vision
• Significant reform of local government finance to enable local government to raise some of its own money

To read the report and key recommendations in full click here.

Last Updated: 2. 6. 2009 12:19:56 By Charlotte Jacques