04 July 2008
Increasing local accountability for services and improving the fractious relationship between town halls and Whitehall could create an 'upward curve' in democracy, the Local Government Association's chair told councillors this week.
In his speech to the LGA conference in Bournemouth on July 1, Sir Simon Milton said a new campaign would seek to improve the commonly held perception of councils.
'No-one could say we come into this for the glamour and glory. One of the problems is our Morecambe and Wise relationship with central government. Whenever they need a cheer from the audience, it's us that gets a slap around the cheeks. But mud sticks,' he said.
Efficiency savings and satisfaction with services had made this a good year for local authorities, Milton said, but he added that there was currently a chance to create a new constitutional settlement for local government.
'If we can succeed in getting accountability and responsibility for public services downward, this could act as a catalyst for putting trust and democracy on an upward curve,' he said.
Milton said he had set up an LGA project to create 'what works' guidance for councils in tackling violent crime among young people.
'By working together, by sharing what we know, we will be stronger in the battle against deprivation, disadvantage and the destruction of young lives,' he told the conference.
As the three-day event got under way on July 1, the LGA published a survey of police authorities, primary care trusts and councils. This suggested that the 2003 Licensing Act, which extended the hours when alcohol can be sold, had had no impact on drink-fuelled disorder and had put extra pressure on services.
One in three primary care trusts reported an increase in alcohol-related violence and half of police authorities said alcohol-related disorder was simply occurring later at night.
In a separate report, published on July 3, the LGA set out its case for ending the practice of transferring the local income from council tenants' rent to the government. Some of this money is redistributed as a housing subsidy and the remainder is kept in a central fund.
The LGA's proposal would allow local authorities to keep the money from rent payments to build council homes and for repair and maintenance.
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