13 September 2002
The last report of the Commons' transport, local government and the regions select committee slated the Local Government Act 2000 for not living up to ministers' promise to revive grassroots democracy and improve authorities' accountability.
'A great deal of time, money and effort have gone into changing the political arrangements of local authorities with apparently little change to the overall quality and credibility of local government,' it concluded.
The Act laid down the new political structures that all councils have had to adopt. But, MPs said, authorities were so bogged down with supplementary guidance and provisions that they were not using the new wellbeing power the Act contained. 'As a result the transformation of previously inward-looking local authorities into outward-looking, responsive councils is unlikely to take place.'
Ministers were criticised for ignoring complaints from backbench councillors that they were being excluded from decision-making under the new political structures. MPs expressed concern that backbenchers were also losing their access to information from officers, and said the problem needed to be addressed.
The committee also called for councillors to be given the power to overturn controversial decisions taken by the Cabinet. 'Full council should be given the power to call in, delay and, if needs be, reject controversial executive decisions,' it said.
The report, published on September 12, is an embarrassment for Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who was responsible for the 2000 Act. He will also steer the draft Local Government Bill on to the statute book if, as expected, it is laid before Parliament later this year.
Committee members voiced anxiety at evidence suggesting there was less public interest in councils since the new structures had been introduced. 'Increasing accountability and transparency was one of the main objectives of the Act,' they added.
A spokeswoman for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister said: 'It is important to remember that local authorities are still at an early stage in implementing the new approach set out in the Local Government Act 2000. We will look at the points made very carefully.'
A Local Government Association spokeswoman said: 'We agree that priority should be given to greater use of the new wellbeing power…We also agree that the scrutiny function is an important one that hasn't yet been exploited to its full potential.'
PFsep2002
