7 July 2010
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles is asking local government workers for their ideas for cutting regulation, in an effort to banish unnecessary red tape.
Pickles has also announced his intent to re-examine and repeal laws that he says make life more difficult for councils for no discernible benefit.
Among these are a 1919 Act that requires the government to sign off all council land purchases for use as allotments, a rule forcing councils to publish details of efficiency savings along with tax bills, and a requirement for social landlords to give information on property ownership to tenants wishing to purchase their homes.
Rules on tree protection are to be streamlined, along with statutory instruments on building regulation and planning.
Pickles said the move would put localism into action and help ‘wrest control away from the bureaucrats’.
‘Too much power has been sucked out of communities and into Westminster, eroding trust in politics, and sapping responsibility and initiative with stifling bureaucracy,’ he said.
‘We need a sensible new
approach that makes clear laws are intended to protect people, not overwhelm
them with red tape.’
Recommendations can be submitted to the Department for Communities and Local Government by emailing [email protected].
