At the time of writing, further delays have added uncertainty to the government’s national programme after legal issues surfaced. What is clear is that the government’s decision to pause LGA shouldn’t put the brakes on devolving powers and resources from Westminster and Whitehall to town halls. What is also clear to me and many of my colleagues in local government is ministers must set a determined timetable and ensure councils like ours are not saddled with the bill after this pause (further delay for us at PCC) was announced. As I mentioned in the last Trib issue councils across the country hold different views on LGR, what it means for their rural areas like ours and the effect this hold up may have. At PCC officers have spent an inordinate amount of time and scarce resources on this programme, particularly concerning at a time when local services remain under real pressure and this lack of certainty from government is most unwelcome.
Personally, I’ve argued that devolution shouldn’t be contingent on LGR alone and that it can hardly be termed as devolution if control is simply consolidated into institutions that remain closer to central government than the communities they serve. I also think the scale and speed of change was too much, particularly alongside Angela Rayner’s frankly ridiculous new house building targets, the planning reform and the significant pressures already facing adults and children’s services at a local level. Yet, being told this was the only show in town, councils pulled out all their stops to comply with the conditions set down.
The review follows decisions on LGR in Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk being withdrawn, apparently following new legal advice, while plans for 16 other areas are being paused and reviewed. Government has also confirmed local elections in May next year will now go ahead on existing council boundaries and that it remains “committed to effective and sustainable local government and simplifying these structures” I think a commitment to seek properly qualified legal advice and listening to those with lived experience and not just people from their own political party before embarking on these huge potential governance changes might also be wise. Watch this space..
