16 May 2003
Town hall leaders will use their top-level meeting with government ministers next week to demand assurances that councils will not be sidelined by the much-vaunted policy of 'new localism'.
Fears are mounting that some ministers are trying to circumvent local politicians in the drive to improve public services.
There is particular unease at possible moves towards elected boards for local public bodies, such as those proposed for foundation NHS trusts. Many in local government are concerned this could lead to a dilution of their own democratic mandate.
The issue will dominate the meeting of the central/local partnership on May 21, which is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and brings together ministers from the major Whitehall departments with leaders from the Local Government Association.
The LGA wants the government to acknowledge that the philosophy of 'new localism' it has been promoting in recent months, apparently inspired by the Treasury, has not been consistent in its implementation.
In particular, its leaders will be demanding a commitment from ministers that local authorities will be the conduit for any further devolution of power.
Phil Swann, the LGA's director of strategy and communications, told Public Finance that the government's apparent enthusiasm for localism in service delivery was 'the key strategic issue of the moment'.
He added: 'Ministers are talking about localism in different ways. Nick Raynsford's vision, for example, has local government right at the heart of it. Alan Milburn's, though, looks for new ways of accountability.
'Our objective now is a more consistent understanding across government of the importance of local government's role in this agenda.'
LGA leaders will also use the CLP as a forum to push for more progress on the introduction of freedoms and flexibilities promised to authorities in the wake of last year's Comprehensive Performance Assessments.
They have welcomed the announcement on May 13 that the 22 councils rated excellent will now be able to spend as they wish four grants totalling £34m, that were previously ring-fenced for neighbourhood wardens, homelessness, recycling and bus services.
But they say progress on introducing the freedoms has been far too slow and needs to be increased.
The Innovations Forum, which brings together the 22 top-performing councils and is chaired by local government minister Nick Raynsford, is due to meet for the first time on May 19. Concern over slow progress in introducing the promised freedoms is expected to top the agenda.
PFmay2003
