29 November 2002
Peter Rogers said that local government had accepted a regime that was an 'unnecessary superinspection'. He told IPF's Cabinet Members' Forum that the CPA process was inconsistent, demotivating and unconstructive.
'You need a few people to stand up and say what they think about the CPA. Otherwise the local authority sector will be rolled over and you will do exactly what you are told,' he said.
The CPA results, which will be announced on December 12 for 150 top-tier authorities in England, are likely to be highly controversial. Councils will be allocated to one of five performance categories, ranging from poor to excellent.
Rogers argued that there was a conflict between Whitehall's priorities and councils' democratic mandate. Westminster saw its priorities as cleansing and crime, but these did not have sufficient weight under the CPA.
'To me it is quite clear that government doesn't trust local authorities,' Rogers claimed. 'It does not trust us to deliver our agenda and their agenda and make rational and sensible decisions locally about priorities.'
The high-profile chief executive said local authorities were already 'inspected to death'. They had an obligation to voice their concerns.
'It could be the start of a new relationship – it depends on how many people stand up to be counted. You can preside over the demise of local democracy or you can be at the rebirth.'
PFnov2002
