Decentralisation, devolution and empowerment: 'Control Shift'

For what are we waiting?

In 2009, David Cameron launched a major policy green paper 'Control Shift' outlining Conservative plans to give power back to local communities via an empowered state, local people and institutions.


Creating bottom-up incentives for house building, by allowing councils to benefit more from the increase in council tax revenues from new homes, rather than being equalised away by Whitehall


Allowing councils to establish their own local enterprise partnerships to take over the economic development functions and funding of the Regional Development Agencies


Giving local authorities a new discretionary power to levy business rate discounts, allowing them to help local shops and services, such as rural pubs or post offices


Provide citizens in all large cities with the opportunity to choose whether to have an elected mayor, through mayoral referendums


Greater use of direct democracy, including allowing residents to veto high council tax rises, and instigating local referendums on local issues


Requiring councils to publish detailed information online on expenditure by local councils – including the pay and perks of senior staff, and issuing new guidance to stop ‘rewards for failure’ to sacked town hall staff.


Caroline Spelman, the Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, said, "It’s not just about empowering local government; we want to empower the people it serves so that they can have more say in how much of their money they want their council to spend on their behalf.”

For what are we waiting?  Bills to become Law?  New Boards to form?  Businesses to go bust?  Websites to be updated with expenditures?

[  BBC News - Eric Pickles to give councillors top pay vote http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12473979  ]

This is a once in a generation opportunity to change the way politics is done ~ what do you want to do about it?   Tell me brookholme@talk21.com

16-25yrs old? Big Society's BIG Mouth

Local People.  Local Power.  Local Politics.

Caroline Spelman

'Control Shift'

Returning Power to Local Communities

http://t.co/w1mKgmj via @AddThis