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Sub-national governance in changing times 2 nd December 2010 Nick Hope Senior Researcher, NLGN

Sub-national governance in changing times 2 nd December 2010 Nick Hope Senior Researcher, NLGN. www.nlgn.org.uk. New Local Government Network (NLGN) is committed to promoting the decentralisation of power, public service reform, enhancing local governance and empowering communities.

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Sub-national governance in changing times 2 nd December 2010 Nick Hope Senior Researcher, NLGN

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  1. Sub-national governance in changing times 2nd December 2010 Nick Hope Senior Researcher, NLGN www.nlgn.org.uk

  2. New Local Government Network (NLGN) is committed to promoting the decentralisation of power, public service reform, enhancing local governance and empowering communities. www.nlgn.org.uk

  3. Councils are heavily influenced by total place Accountability & Influence Parliament ALB Whitehall Key Formal Accountability (thicker line = stronger accountability) Relationships / collaboration / informal influence Local government Intermediary body (e.g. PCT) Delivery agency Delivery agency Delivery agency Citizens 3

  4. But the coalition is devolving in order to build a bigger society Accountability & Influence Parliament ALB Whitehall Key Formal Accountability (thicker line = stronger accountability) Relationships / collaboration / informal influence Significant change to status quo Local government Intermediary body (e.g. PCT) Elected Commiss-ioner Delivery agency Delivery agency Delivery agency Citizens Communities Communities Communities 4

  5. Does the coalition pass the Isaiah Berlin test? Negative localism: freedom from interference Positive localism: the power and resources to fulfil potential • Positive liberties: • Community-based budgets? • TIF • Business rates • Negative liberties: • Abolishing CAA • Removing ringfencing • Incentives to set 0% council tax

  6. The greatest negative liberty of all

  7. Some will be hit harder than others

  8. Making own positive localism “What if this is it?”, Local Authority Chief Executive

  9. LEPs must ensure that we target investment more strategically • Strategic planning – housing, waste, energy, transport and economic development could all benefit from LEPs: • Joint lobbying of Whitehall – joint voice of LAs and business • Fast-tracking of the development management process • Planning intelligence and ensuring integration with economic plan/assessment • Removing pipeline blockages – for economically important planning applications • Leading strategic policy frameworks and developing comprehensive infrastructure plans

  10. We should still push for LEP powers • Centralisation: • Key sector development • Inward investment • Work programme • Skills commisioning or at least steer of investment • These are key economic drivers and should be made available to LEPs – many LEPs put these in their bids (skill was key “ask” and yet LEPs and LAs cut out of Skills Strategy from BIS a couple of weeks ago).

  11. Mechanisms to achieve Devolution to LEPs? • “Right to bid” and double devolution – on statutory footing? • Who should decide? Vested institutional self-interest and need for neutral arbiter. • Also opportunities through greater financial autonomy– business rate localisation – to have more economic focus • Also opportunities for mayors to win powers for cities and city-region LEPs- new powers to incentivise successful referenda promised by Whitehall – what should these be?

  12. New Local Government Network (NLGN) is committed to promoting the decentralisation of power, public service reform, enhancing local governance and empowering communities. www.nlgn.org.uk

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