Localism Bill slips again

9 Dec 10
The coalition government’s long-awaited Decentralisation and Localism Bill has been delayed again, prompting concerns over how councils will deal with front-loaded cuts next year

By David Williams

9 December 2010

The coalition government’s long-awaited Decentralisation and Localism Bill has been delayed again, prompting concerns over how councils will deal with front-loaded cuts next year.

The Bill, originally pencilled in for late November, was widely expected to be published today. Although rumours circulated around Westminster suggesting that it would be postponed until the new year, ministers confirmed today that the bill would come out on Monday, December 13.

Stephen Hammond, parliamentary private secretary to Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles, told Public Finance that delays were down to a combination of the size of the Bill, parliamentary scheduling, and the need to co-ordinate with other departments.

He said: ‘It is fair to say that the important thing was to get this Bill right and to make sure the various elements were signed off across government

‘Inevitably this Bill will have some things that impact on other departments – so there has to be consultation.’

He said the Bill ‘is about a huge philosophical statement of this government, and then giving that statement a practical reality… it will be one of the biggest bills this country will have seen in the past ten years.’

The local government finance settlement, itself delayed from its original December 2 date, is also now expected to be published on December 13.

The Bill and settlement are closely linked, said Dan Garfield, communications director of the Local Government Information Unit. He argued that the Bill would give new powers and freedoms to councils, making it easier for them to deal with heavy grant cuts.

Tony Travers, director of the Greater London Group at the London School of Economics, said the continuing delays were ‘seriously problematic’ to the government. ‘The Bill is supposed to be the centrepiece of the administration’s whole approach to government,’ he said. ‘For both the Bill and the finance settlement to have slipped does not augur well.’

Anna Turley, deputy director of the New Local Government Network, said the continuing slippage had been 'chaotic' and did not allow enough time for debate.

But, she added: ‘The most concerning thing is the finance settlement – it is desperately urgent, because people can’t plan. The local government family must be looking on in bewilderment and frustration.’

Caroline Flint, shadow communities secretary, laid the blame at the door of her opposite number, Eric Pickles. 'The repeated delays to the Localism Bill have caused uncertainty to local communities, councils, the private sector and the voluntary sector.
 
'This is supposed to be flagship coalition legislation - Eric Pickles needs to get a grip.'

 

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