Independent Local Government

Local decision making is a more efficient way of producing better outcomes. However, the questions of who takes decisions and who they answer to still remain. It is often unclear who is ultimately responsible for what when it comes providing local public services and funding them.

Many other countries' constitutions explicitly link parliament and local government with a written statement, including France, Italy, Germany and Spain. The Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee has raised the question of formal acknowledgement of such a relationship in England. This could possibly be through a code allowing local authorities the freedom to independently respond to the needs and wants of their local communities, rather than acting on central government prescriptions.

The Local Government Association (LGA) wants to start a discussion on whether central government should formally acknowledge the devolution of responsibility to local government. We want people in different sectors of local government to consider important questions about how and if we can bring these decisions into the democratic framework. In addition, whether formally acknowledging the relationship, possibly through a code, will allow local authorities in England to clearly demonstrate that they are responding to the needs and wants of their local communities, rather than acting on central government prescriptions.

Through this debate, we want to ensure local government has a leading role in shaping future relationships with central government.

Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee (PCRSC) Consultation

The PCRSC is consulting on ’The prospects for codifying the relationship between central and local government: next steps' as part of its exploration of the issues around codifying the relationship between central and local government.

It is in the process of collecting and considering evidence. The LGA is working with Graham Allen MP, Chair of the PCRSC, to bring together different sectors of local government to take part in the debate. This includes the possibility of a draft code aimed at entrenching independent local government, to feed into the PCRSC consultation. More information about the inquiry can be seen here:

Prospects for codifying the relationship between central and local government – on the Parliament website

The LGA and Graham Allen MP have also launched a public discussion looking into the merits of constitutional reform to make the roles of Whitehall and councils clearer to local residents. The publication is available on the website:

Events

Campaign launch

On Thursday 9 February, the LGA and Graham Allen MP, Chair of the PCRSC held a reception in Parliament to launch the Independent Local Government campaign and the PCRSC's consultation. People from across the local government sector and Parliamentarians attended, along with academics and many others interested in the debate.

Photographs from the event by Mamun Humayun

A number of events are being planned on this issue. The next event is an LGA Smith Square Debate on the 29 February 2012. The debate, entitled ’Local Government's Magna Carta?' will be held at Local Government House. More details can be found below.

Smith Square Debate: Local Government's Magna Carta?