20 May 2010
Comprehensive Area Assessments for local government will be scrapped according to the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition’s programme for government, published today.
The flagship inspection regime for local services was developed by the Audit Commission and other major public service inspectorates over several years. Coming into effect in April 2009, its first results were published in December.
But its abolition was a long-standing Conservative commitment. The coalition document also states that local government inspection will be cut.
Responding to the document, an Audit Commission spokeswoman said: ‘The commission will work with the government and other inspectorates on how to increase accountability for local public services through more transparency, richer data and less inspection.
‘The commission is considering proposals for immediate redeployment of staff into work that will help audited and inspected bodies meet the financial challenge.’
Other commitments included in the communities and local government section of the coalition agreement are pledges to freeze council tax in England for at least one year, the phasing out of ring-fenced grants to local government and giving councils a general power of competence.
The restructuring of local government in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk is to be halted.
It also states that the Standards Board regime, which regulates councillors’ conduct will be abolished, as will the Government Office for London, while abolition of the remaining government offices will also be considered.
England’s 12 largest cities will receive directly elected mayors, subject to confirmatory referendums.
The Infrastructure Planning Commission is also to be disbanded and replaced with ‘an efficient and democratically accountable system that provides a fast-track process for major infrastructure projects’.
Another planning-related commitment included in the document is the abolition of regional spatial strategies, with housing and planning powers returning to councils.
But Sir Jeremy Beecham, leader of the Labour Group at the Local Government Association, described the coalition deal as a ‘serious threat to local government’.
‘It is
disappointing that little is said about expanding social and affordable housing
with more council building, nor is there anything to strengthen councils' hand
in dealing with the bus industry,’ he said.
‘A two-year freeze on council tax, coupled with probable heavy cuts in
government grant, threaten services and the local economy. The LGA and member
councils will need to study the document and consider detailed responses taking
into account the June Budget proposals.’
