11 April 2003
Twenty-two luminaries from the world of local government are to scrutinise how Whitehall funds town halls, as the balance of funding review finally got under way this week.
Local government minister Nick Raynsford has named the members of the panel who will conduct the long-awaited inquiry, first announced last year.
It will consider whether authorities' budgets rely too heavily on central government grants. At the moment, councils receive about 75% of their funding this way.
Raynsford, chairing the committee, said it was time for a 'thorough review' of the current regime. 'Recent rises in council tax raise pressing questions about the right way of financing local government that the review will need to address,' he added.
Key figures taking part include Sir Jeremy Beecham and Sir Brian Briscoe, respectively chair and chief executive of the Local Government Association; Alasdair McGowan, local government adviser to the Number 10 policy unit; and Stewart Wood, the Treasury's adviser on local government.
The panel includes academics Professor Gerry Stoker, chair of the New Local Government Network; and Andrew Dilnot, principal of St Hugh's, Oxford, and former director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Local government is also represented by Sir Howard Bernstein and Darra Singh, chief executives of Manchester City Council and Luton Borough Council; and CIPFA chief executive Steve Freer. Heather Wakefield, Unison's local government national secretary, will represent trade unions.
Beecham said: 'The issues the review will tackle go to the heart of local democracy and public service.'
The panel will convene on April 28 and will meet every two to three months for the next year.
PFapr2003
