Control shift as powers move to communities

Communities and Local Government secretary Eric Pickles is expected to present his long-awaited Localism Bill imminently.

The Bill is expected to contain over 200 clauses and outlines the coalition government's reform programme for local government, housing, planning and local democracy.

The centrepiece of the Bill is what officials at the Department for Communities & Local Government this week described as an 'all-powerful tool' empowering councils to take 'unhindered' any action they deem necessary to improve the economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their area or residents: the general power of competence (GPC).

While local government experts welcomed the devolution of major powers to councils and neighbourhoods, the absence of accompanying financial freedoms has left some questioning whether the coalition's reform programme has the ability to deliver genuine 'localism'.

Ed Cox, director at the Institute for Public Policy Research, said: 'I'm broadly positive about the Government's idea that powers need to be decentralised and given to councils and communities.

'But there are some big challenges in terms of what these powers mean in practice. Specifically, I think power follows money and the absence of new financial powers for local authorities leaves me to question whether they will make effective use of new general powers during a period of spending cuts. Is the Government simply handing down the axe?'

Commentators have expressed concern over local accountability for other powers contained in the Bill. Mr Pickles has moved to partially bypass town halls by providing residents with opportunities to assume control of local public services or assets – and to block or approve developments.

But while both policy experts applauded the community-level engagement, they argued councils should be handed sufficient powers to co-ordinate and scrutinise services provided at arm's length of town halls.

One commentator said: 'If groups of residents – or neighbourhoods – can take control of services, whose interests will they truly represent?

'What framework is in place to stop extremist groups or, more likely, the interests of the sharp-elbowed middle classes or "Nimbys" from taking over at the expense of local residents who are less organised or vocal?'

Read more at localgov.co.uk