MPs support greater powers and funding for councils

The Municipality Association is urging the federal government to make use of the Queen’s Speech to create forward ‘turbo-charged’ proposals for devolution across the country.

Exclusive polling for that Local Government Association by Savanta ComRes shows that 58 per cent of MPs and 80 percent of peers agree that councils should be given greater powers and funding they are driving employment and training schemes within their areas.

As many as 80 per cent of MPs say councils must have more financial freedoms and powers to build homes in their area and almost 75 % (72 percent) say they ought to have more treatments for local taxes.

The LGA has stressed that it is councils who know their local areas best and should be central to efforts to level up the stark inequalities which have been exposed through the pandemic. One of many lessons in the coronavirus crisis is the fact that a centralised design and charge of public services from Whitehall does not work as well as an approach that enables councils to innovate and make new services locally.

Councillors point to research showing that council maintained schools deliver better recent results for our children, council-run public health services are improving the health in our nation and where councils may influence the local skills agenda, businesses can grow to play a significant economic role within the nation’s future prosperity.

The LGA is looking for the government to end the focus on devolution deals designed by Whitehall and instead ensure that all councils supports new infrastructure investment, build more homes, join up public services and supply greater use of jobs and prosperity.

This needs to be underpinned by ensuring that: devolution deals are locally led: tthere shouldn't be one-size-fits all approach on governance, no standardised deals crafted in Whitehall and people areas able go furthest, fastest should be able to do so; devolution deals leave nothing off the table: councils should be given accessibility widest possible group of powers including fiscal devolution, like the local assignment of taxes, and also the capability to ‘defragment’ national agencies at a local level to tackle issues such as skills and unemployment; which devolution is backed by adequate resources: any newly devolved powers and responsibilities should be fully funded and sit alongside a long-term sustainable funding settlement for municipality.  

James Jamieson, chairman of the LGA, said: “The pandemic indicates that, with the right funding and freedoms, councils can improve people’s lives and ensure the successful delivery of these priorities which are shared by national and local government. Bringing power and resources nearer to many of us is paramount for those our communities to thrive.

“Different regions of the nation will require their own unique response within the coming months and years. The Queen’s Speech need to empower councils in order play a central role in levelling in the stark inequalities the pandemic has exposed, develop a green recovery, address skills gaps and gain levels the economy in order that it benefits everyone.”