The coalition government announced plans to give English cities outside London more power to raise funds, decide on infrastructure projects, and develop new businesses and jobs. Bespoke 'city deals' would free cities from central government control. The 8 largest cities outside London – the 'core cities' – would be the first to be offered the chance to agree new powers.
Source: Unlocking Growth In Cities, Cabinet Office
Links: Report | Hansard | Speech | DPM press release | BCC press release | Centre for Cities press release | Labour Party press release | 157 Group press release | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined the rationale for, and interconnexions between, the coalition government's objectives for the 'Big Society', 'localism', and a 'rebalanced economy'. It explored the prospects for achieving each objective in a weak economic period, particularly in more deprived local areas. It also considered the links between the idea of the 'Big Society' and social capital literature: both were jeopardized by poor understanding and by the reducing role of the local and central state.
Source: Andy Westwood, 'Localism, social capital and the "Big Society"', Local Economy, Volume 26 Number 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
The government began consultation in the 12 largest English cities outside London on what powers people would like an elected mayor to be able to exercise on their behalf.
Source: What Can a Mayor Do for Your City? A consultation, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Consultation document | Hansard | DCLG press release | BBC report | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Nov
The Localism Act 2011 was given Royal assent. The Act (mostly relating to England and Wales) included provision for: a general power of competence for local councils to take any action that did not cost money or breach an Act of Parliament; greater community empowerment, including neighbourhood planning to enable communities to grant planning permission; new rights for communities to take over services or to buy community assets; a right for citizens to have referendums on local issues and to veto council tax rises; greater financial autonomy for local government; replacement of the Infrastructure Planning Commission with a 'democratically accountable' system for major infrastructure spending; replacement of the housing revenue account subsidy system, with councils having greater control over the allocation and tenure of social housing; and new powers to create directly elected mayors in at least 12 cities.
Source: Localism Act 2011, Department for Communities and Local Government, TSO
Links: Act | Explanatory notes | CIPFA press release | POS press release | RTPI press release | TCPA press release
Date: 2011-Nov
A report by a committee of MPs examined the implications of the coalition government's welfare reform plans for its 'localism' agenda. Restrictions placed on local authorities in designing their own schemes for council tax support would produce 'only the illusion of local discretion'. Combined with a planned 10 per cent cut in spending on support for council tax, these restrictions were likely to squeeze the funds available to support working-age unemployed people.
Source: Localisation Issues in Welfare Reform, Fifth Report (Session 2010-12), HC 1406, House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Additional written evidence | Inside Housing report | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Oct
A report examined the main structural changes and strategic challenges facing local government over the next 5-10 years, and their implications for research, policymaking, and practice at the front line.
Source: John Benington (ed.), New Horizons for Local Governance, Local Authorities and Research Councils Initiative
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Sep
The government responded to a report by a committee of MPs on its localism strategy in England. It said that power should reside at the lowest appropriate level, and that no government department had been granted an exemption from decentralization.
Source: Government Response to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee?s Report: Localism, Cm 8183, Department for Communities and Local Government, TSO
Links: Response | Public Finance report
Notes: MPs report
Date: 2011-Sep
A report called for a new system of 'local public support' to replace the fragmented public service arrangements currently in place in England. Policy makers needed to pay closer attention to the different local 'theories of active citizenship' that might be present among citizens, service users, and public service providers; and should work with these rather than attempting to impose a single model.
Source: 'When Tomorrow Comes': The future of local public services, University of Birmingham Policy Commission
Links: Report | Summary | Appendices | Literature review
Date: 2011-Aug
The Department for Communities and Local Government published its annual report for 2010-11.
Source: Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11, HC 971, Department for Communities and Local Government, TSO
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jul
A report examined the potential impact of a localist reform agenda on the future of local public services.
Source: Carrie Bennett and Pauline Thorington-Jones, 'When Tomorrow Comes': The future of local public services, Policy Commission on the Future of Local Public Services (University of Birmingham)
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Jul
A report by a committee of MPs said that the coalition government had failed to produce a compelling vision of what its imagined 'localist' future would look like, and the functions and responsibilities of the players within it.
Source: Localism, Third Report (Session 2010-12), HC 547, House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | Additional written evidence | Labour Party press release | LGA press release | NLGN press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Jun
The Localism Bill was given a third reading. The Bill (mostly relating to England and Wales) included plans for: a general power of competence for local councils to take any action that did not cost money or breach an Act of Parliament; greater community empowerment, including neighbourhood planning to enable communities to grant planning permission; new rights for communities to take over services or to buy community assets; a right for citizens to have referendums on local issues and to veto council tax rises; greater financial autonomy for local government; replacement of the Infrastructure Planning Commission with a 'democratically accountable' system for major infrastructure spending; replacement of the housing revenue account subsidy system, with councils having greater control over the allocation and tenure of social housing; and new powers to create directly elected mayors in at least 12 cities.
Source: Localism Bill, Department for Communities and Local Government, TSO | Debate 18 May 2011, columns 367-461, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Impact assessments (summary) | Hansard
Date: 2011-May
The Department for Communities and Local Government published a revised business plan, covering the period 2011-2015.
Source: Business Plan 2011-2015, Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: 2011-May
An article examined the introduction (under the terms of the coalition government's White Paper) of a greater role for local government in running health services in England.
Source: Bob Hudson, 'All that glisters: are the NHS reforms good for local government?', Journal of Integrated Care, Volume 19 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Apr
The government began consultation on the statutory duties of local councils in England and Wales. It listed 1,294 statutory duties, and asked councils to say which duties should be kept, which should be repealed, and which had not been included on the list.
Source: Written Ministerial Statement 7 March 2011, columns 53-54WS, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Hansard | DCLG press release | Community Care report | Guardian report | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Mar
An article said that the local government reorganization process introduced by the Labour government in England during the period 2006-2010 had been characterized by a range of 'disturbing characteristics' – including a disjuncture between rhetoric and reality, and a failure to distinguish between what was 'lawful' and what was proper.
Source: Michael Chisholm and Steve Leach, 'Dishonest government: local government reorganisation, England 2006-2010', Local Government Studies, Volume 37 Number 1
Links: Article
Date: 2011-Mar
A briefing paper examined the introduction of directly elected mayors in England and Wales.
Source: Keith Parry, Directly-Elected Mayors, Standard Note SN/PC/5000, House of Commons Library
Links: Briefing paper
Date: 2011-Mar
A report provided a detailed critique of the provisions contained in the Localism Bill. As well as providing local authorities with new freedoms from central government, the Bill also imposed a number of new duties on them and introduced new powers for central government.
Source: John Raine and Catherine Staite (eds.), The World Will Be Your Oyster, Institute of Local Government Studies (University of Birmingham)
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Feb
The government published (following consultation) a revised code on the content, style, distribution, and cost of local authority publicity. It was designed to place tighter limits on the freedom of local authorities in England to spend money on publicity materials.
Source: The Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Draft code | Explanatory notes | Hansard | DCLG press release | LGA press release | London Councils press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Feb
The Localism Bill was given a second reading. The Bill (mostly relating to England and Wales) included plans for: a general power of competence for local councils to take any action that did not cost money or breach an Act of Parliament; greater community empowerment, including neighbourhood planning to enable communities to grant planning permission; new rights for communities to take over services or to buy community assets; a right for citizens to have referendums on local issues and to veto council tax rises; greater financial autonomy for local government; replacement of the Infrastructure Planning Commission with a 'democratically accountable' system for major infrastructure spending; replacement of the housing revenue account subsidy system, with councils having greater control over the allocation and tenure of social housing; and new powers to create directly elected mayors in at least 12 cities.
Source: Localism Bill, Department for Communities and Local Government, TSO | Debate 17 January 2011, columns 558-660, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Guide | Impact assessments (summary) | Hansard | CfPS press release | Friends of the Earth press release | LGA press release
Date: 2011-Jan
A paper examined the sections of the Localism Bill relating to planning, housing, and London.
Source: Christopher Barclay and Wendy Wilson, Localism Bill: Planning and Housing, Research Paper 2011/03, House of Commons Library
Links: HOC Library research paper | Bill | Explanatory notes | Guide
Notes: The Localism Bill was given a second reading on 17 January 2011.
Date: 2011-Jan
A briefing paper examined proposals for a neighbourhood planning regime contained in the Localism Bill. The Bill would allow parish councils to draw up a draft neighbourhood plan. If the plan passed an independent examination, it would be put to a local referendum. If 50 per cent of those who voted were in favour, the local planning authority would have to adopt the plan (unless it conflicted with the European Convention on Human Rights or European Union policy).
Source: Christopher Barclay, Neighbourhood Planning in Localism Bill, Standard Note SN/SC/5838, House of Commons Library
Links: Briefing paper
Date: 2011-Jan
A report by a committee of MPs said that there was little hard evidence to support the view of the commercial newspaper industry that local council publications were, to any significant extent, competing unfairly with independent newspapers. Nor was it persuaded that a code of practice on local authority publicity was the correct tool by which to apply constraints upon the hiring of 'lobbyists' by local councils.
Source: Proposed Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity, First Report (Session 2010-11), HC 666, House of Commons Communities and Local Government Select Committee, TSO
Links: Report | London Councils press release | BBC report
Date: 2011-Jan
A paper examined the sections of the Localism Bill relating to local government and community empowerment.
Source: Chris Sear and Keith Parry, Localism Bill: Local Government and Community Empowerment, Research Paper 2011/02, House of Commons Library
Links: HOC Library research paper | Bill | Explanatory notes | Guide
Notes: The Localism Bill was given a second reading on 17 January 2011.
Date: 2011-Jan
A think-tank report called for three key reforms that would help to promote a 'new era of localism' in local government: reducing local government's dependency on central government by letting councils raise more than half of their own money from local sources (up from less than 40 per cent); allowing councils to bid to manage elements of budgets controlled by central government, such as health, police, and Jobcentres; and reform of central policy-making, with more hurdles to stop the 'micro-management' of localities.
Source: Simon Parker, Next Localism: Five trends for the future of local government, New Local Government Network
Links: Report | Summary | Public Finance report
Date: 2011-Jan