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Winchester T: 01962 893 893 F: 01962 893 883
London T: 020 7812 6490 F: 020 7812 6677
info@remarkable-engagement.co.uk
Find out more about Localism visit localism-agenda.com
The Government's proposals for neighbourhood planning came under fire this week in evidence to the Department of Communities and Local Government's Select Committee on localism.
Councillor David Milsted, leader of the second largest group on North Dorset Council, argued that neighbourhood development plans and neighbourhood development orders would use a lot of public money which might be better spent elsewhere.
The problem with localism as a premise was also raised by a Labour MP, who noted that it appeared to mean one thing to one local authority, and something quite different to another, as some local authorities were placing a lot of emphasis on local residents, whereas others were placing increased emphasis on town or parish councils.
Asked whether a central Government initiaitve was required to enable localism to flourish at a local level or whether local Government could do this on its own, Steve Evans, Director of Community Services at South Gloucestershire Council, said the Localism Bill was a good start, but that its sucess would depend on the details of the legislation. Asked what else could be done in addition to the provisions set out in the Localism Bill, Councillor Milsted replied that local authorities should be given the power to set their own taxes and enable the public to vote them out if the level set was opposed.
The committee also discussed how the success of localism could be measured, with ideas ranging from budgets being reduced, to local services being improved. Mark Hebditch, chairman of the Community Partnership Executive of North Dorset District Council, said that the important thing would be understanding the needs and aspirations of local communities, from which success criteria could be drawn.
The Big Society more generally was also debated, with those giving evidence in agreement that one of the core difficulties was that volunteers tended to be retired, and often the same people were volunteering for several roles, meaning that if one became unable to volunteer several core services might be lost. Mr Hebditch said that there was a danger that services like libraries would become "de-professionalised".
The Localism Bill is to due to have its second reading on Monday 17 January 2011.
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