New LGA chair calls for decentralisation
The new chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA) has called for the Government to grant greater powers to local authorities.
Sir Sandy Bruce-Lockhart is the leader of Kent County Council and will become the first Conservative to chair the LGA.
The outgoing, and high profile, Sir Jeremy Beecham, will become the vice-chair of the LGA and continue as leader of the Labour group.
In his first speech as chairman, Sir Sandy told the LGA’s annual conference that: “Britain is fast approaching a crisis, both in democracy and in its ability to make proper use of the public’s money.”
“Radical decentralisation must now take place with real freedoms and autonomy for local government. But it must not be a decentralisation only to local government, but to and through local government. Councils must in turn empower communities, parishes, neighbourhood groups, schools, voluntary groups, families and individuals.
“A renaissance of local government is not an option. It is also essential if confidence and trust in government – national and local – is to be regained.”
He also branded the Government’s failure to consult with the LGA on its five year education plan- due to be announced later- “a serious breakdown in the working of the central/local partnership”.
With some predicting that local authorities will have a reduced role in funding schools, Sir Sandy argued: “It is Government that has a grip on schools not local councils. It is Government and Government alone that attaches the strings and prescription on to school funding such as the standards fund and the bid funding that schools have to apply for from Government departments.”
“Last year the Government blamed local authorities for withholding funding to schools and they were proved to be wrong. They are wrong again. The way to freeing up schools is to end the funding formulas that dictate down to the last penny how local authorities and headteachers spend their resources. “
Sir Sandy praised Sir Jeremy Beecham saying he had led the LGA “with great distinction, diplomacy, considerable tact and a delightful sense of humour”.
He said the biggest challenge for the LGA is to raise the standing of local government with the public.
The LGA also announced that it is streamlining its committee structure from 19 executives to six boards responsible for: regeneration, improvement, children and young people, adults, safer communities and the environment.
It believes that the new structure will ensure “the LGA is better suited to effective influencing of policy development and lobbying.”
