Member News
By Tony Grew - 24th January 2011
The chair of the local government association has welcomed the localism bill but said the secretary of state will retain too much power.
Margaret Eaton was giving evidence today to the communities and local government committee.
She said plans to give councils a power of general competence will make "a profound and lasting difference" to local government in England and Wales.
Eaton, a Conservative councillor in Bradford, said she had been pushing for the power for many years and is "delighted" it is in the localism bill.
She explained that unlike the recent "well being" powers granted to councils, the general competence will not be vulnerable to legal challenges.
However, she expressed concern that the localism agenda could be undermined by the sheer number of occasions, 142 in the bill, when the secretary of state can intervene and over-ride councils.
Eaton said she hoped overly-prescriptive measures would be removed from the legislation at committee stage.
George Hollingberry (Con, Meon Valley) asked what councils currently cannot do.
Eaton said for example it might not be possible for two councils to sign a joint contract at present.
Simon Parker, director of the new local government network, told the committee that the localism bill will provide space for innovation by local authorities.
He said councils will be emboldened by their new wide-ranging powers and the legislation could encourage other parts of the public sector to join forces with them.
Parker predicted that the nature of local representation will radically alter, with councillors no longer "elected service managers" but innovative thinkers looking for new partnerships and approaches.
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