17 May 2002
The association, which has struggled to reach a consensus on the question of elected assemblies for the regions, said that any such chambers should not be set up at the expense of local authorities.
Some of its members fear that the assemblies would take powers away from local authorities rather than assume functions performed by central government.
Speaking after Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott published the government's white paper on English devolution, LGA chair Sir Jeremy Beecham admitted that support for the proposals was not universal among members.
Conservative councillors oppose the principle of regional government, while county councils, unsurprisingly, object to the prospect of their own abolition.
'There are differences of opinion on the issue of regional assemblies among the political parties in local government,' he said. 'The LGA is keen to ensure that assemblies have the backing of local people and that the process for establishing them does not divert councils from improving their services.'
The white paper pledges to give assemblies – which can be set up only after a 'yes' vote in regional referendums – strategic powers in areas such as planning, health, housing, transport, culture and the economy. In regions with directly elected assemblies, county councils would be abolished and replaced with unitary authorities.
The assemblies are each expected to cost about £25m per year to run, which will be raised through a council tax precept. Ministers say this will mean an extra 5p per week on the average band-D council tax bill. Unveiling the white paper, Prescott said: 'Our proposals will give the regions of England new choices, new powers and a new voice.'
But Gordon Keymer, LGA Conservative group leader, condemned them as bureaucratic and damaging to democratic accountability. 'Councils are the best mechanisms to provide quality local services, while addressing problems within their own areas, something a remote and distant assembly would find hard to achieve,' he said.
Pressure group the Campaign for the English Regions gave the white paper an enthusiastic welcome. Chair George Morran said: 'The white paper signals for the first time a real commitment by a UK government to offer the people of the English regions the opportunity to take some responsibility for their own futures in a number of important areas of public policy.'
PFmay2002
