06 January 2006
Proposals for neighbourhood bodies drawing inspiration from the French commune model may be outlined when the government publishes its local government white paper later this year, David Miliband has indicated.
The communities and local government minister said last week that the government was keen to empower local people and bolster civic responsibility, and would set out plans to achieve this in the document.
Miliband emphasised that he was not proposing a new tier of government below town halls, but said there would be proposals for delegated budgets, broader powers for parish councils and new rights for community ownership of assets.
Miliband said: 'We want to empower people through a national neighbourhoods framework, local charters, rules of the road for local behaviour and a range of options for neighbourhood action.'
The white paper will flesh out some of the ideas set out in a series of discussion papers published before last year's general election.
PFjan2006
