Written evidence submitted by Localis
(LOCO 110)
ABOUT LOCALIS
Localis is an independent think tank dedicated to
promoting a localist agenda and challenging the existing centralisation
of power and responsibility. We carry out innovative research,
hold a calendar of events and facilitate an ever growing network
of members to stimulate and challenge the current orthodoxy of
the governance of the UK.
VIEWS ON
DECENTRALISATION, LOCALISM
AND THE
BIG SOCIETY
Localis strongly believes that the decentralisation
of power is absolutely vital for the improvement of public services
and the reinvigoration of civil society. This should rest at the
lowest appropriate level. We have therefore welcomed many of the
Government's commitments to decentralisation including the break-up
of RDAs, community budgets, localised planning and a greater role
for local government in policing and health.
While we welcome very many of the Government's commitments,
we do feel that there is still room for improvement, and many
initiatives could go much further—particularly pooled and
place based budgets, devolved financial responsibilities, and
going further with increased powers and responsibilities.
KEY THEMES
TO LOCALIS'
WORK
¾ More
funding should be controlled locally, and the flows of money should
be passed upwards where appropriate, and not down from central
to local government. Powers for local government should be ceded
at the same rate at which financial controls have been devolved.
¾ Performance
should be measured in a way that is relevant to local areas, and
only compared on a national level where it is relevant. The removal
of performance and inspection should be replaced with a broad
and focused transparency agenda.
¾ Accountability
must lie with elected local government and not with unaccountable
quangos. As part of this councils should move towards a more commissioning
based model
¾ Extensive
financial incentives are needed for local areas to work together
for the long term prosperity of places.
MAIN RECENT
PUBLICATIONS
¾ Total
Neighbourhood—Advocates initiating
large scale neighbourhood and council-wide place-based budgets;
realigning funding streams into early intervention initiatives
that can save money.
¾ For
Good Measure—Advocates removing
CAA, and carrying out a self assessment; releasing locally relevant
financial information.
¾ The
Bottom Line—Advocated a more efficient
use of assets and aligning cuts alongside a comprehensive analysis
of key local priorities; evaluating existing capital investments
to deliver tangible benefits and to make use of existing trading
and borrowing powers. Also advocated the use of pooled budgets.
¾ Small
state, Big Society—A series of essays
that explore the international angle to the Big Society. The common
ground was largely based on the
¾ Can
localism deliver—A report looking
at the prospect for local authorities working together, and a
number of recommendations for how the future regional landscape
can work together more effectively.
¾ With
a little help from our friends—A
report comparing local government internationally, in financial
freedoms, constitutional protection, functions and responsibilities,
and intervention from the centre.
CURRENT PROJECTS
¾ Can
councils live without the formula grant
- A project looking at pragmatically feasible ways to re-localise
a proportion of business rates to give local areas a much larger
incentive for growth.
¾ Responding
to the CSR - A small report including
a survey looking at how councils are and should be responding
to the CSR - seeing it as an opportunity and not only a threat.
¾ The
future after CAA - A report looking to
link financial performance to locally defined priorities, and
to allow comparison between comparable areas, using a bottom up
model to determine a common framework.
FUTURE WORK
AND THE
BIG QUESTIONS
GOING FORWARD
¾ Councils
as commissioning and trading hubs - eg
Can councils move away far more extensively from their provider
role to a more strategic commissioner? And what mechanisms are
there for councils to actually make a return on their investments?
¾ Housing
- eg Where is the land that new homes
will be built on? What are the prospects for a community right
to build? And what future for housing targets?
¾ Planning
- eg What are the pragmatic steps that will allow community groups
to take a constructive role in planning? What future for the greenbelt?
And how can the planning system support growth?
¾ The
Big Society - eg What is preventing the
take-off of the big society? Is there a role for Europe?
¾ The
future of economic development - eg How
should LEPS be encouraged and funded from the bottom up, and what
is the right balance between political and business leadership?
¾ Local
government finance - eg What is required
so that all councils can live without the formula grant? What
is the role of borrowing and financial innovation in this?
¾ General
Power of Competence - eg What is the future
of the GPOC, and how can it become a reality?
November 2010
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