Memorandum from Frampton on Severn Parish Council  (BOP 52)

 

 

Further devolution

Local Government does need greater autonomy. Fundamentally the ultra vires rule needs reversal, so that local authorities may act unless specifically forbidden.

 

Yes. Distancing of police authorities from local authorities and the erosion of the local authority role in health care.

 

Financial autonomy

The current arrangements for local authority funding are almost entirely deplorable.

 

(a) The Council Tax is an inelastic and mainly unprogressive tax. It is unpopular and perceived as unfair. It should be replaced by a local income tax.

 

(b) It is vital that local authorities are enabled to raise much more of their resources locally, and left free to determine levels of spending in accordance with local needs and without any central government capping.

 

(c) Central control of local capital spending should be greatly reduced so that local authorities can invest in the future of their communities in accordance with local decisions, not the dictates of the national treasury.

 

Existing powers

While local authorities are responsible within the law for provision of many local services these laws are of course generated by central government, which by detailed regulation and ultimate financial control largely determines the local outcomes.

 

Local authorities make good use of their existing powers of well-being etc.

 

Improving the relationship between central and local government

We are doubtful if the central-local concordat has made any significant difference to these relations.

 

We are special about the idea of an 'independent' commission. Independent of whom? On what criteria would its judgements be made? Who would establish these criteria? We suspect as in the so called independence of the Bank of England's MPC the reality would be that all key decisions would be made by central government.

 

The constitutional position

These questions raise key issues on the nature of the UK Constitution. Such issues could be dealt with by a Bill of Rights or a written constitution. More simply, the ending of the ultra vires rule would liberate local authorities, and financial autonomy would strengthen their position.

 

Unfortunately so long as the House of Commons is rigidly controlled by central government it is unlikely that local authorities will have much protection from parliament, despite the more responsive attitude of the House of Lords.

 

 October 2008