Government’s new white paper aims to give power to local authorities to make improvements in their communities.
The Government has published its long-awaited levelling up white paper, offering a devolution deal to every part of England that wants one, alongside other proposals for boosting local areas and reducing inequalities by the end of the decade.
Councils and combined authorities will have a critical role to play in achieving the 12 new missions set out in the white paper. These cover four broad areas: boosting productivity and living standards by growing the private sector; spreading opportunities and improving public services; restoring a sense of community, local pride and belonging; and empowering local leaders and communities.
Devolution will be extended beyond metropolitan areas for the first time, with Cornwall; Derbyshire and Derby; Devon, Plymouth and Torbay; Durham; Hull and East Yorkshire; Leicestershire; Norfolk; Nottinghamshire and Nottingham; and Suffolk invited to start formal negotiations to agree new county deals. Negotiations for a mayoral combined authority (MCA) deal will take place with York and North Yorkshire, as well as for an expanded MCA deal for the North East. Other areas in similar situations, such as Cumbria, will have the opportunity to consider the same deal.
Devolution will also be deepened through opening negotiations for trailblazer deals with the West Midlands and Greater Manchester Combined Authorities and by inviting other MCAs to bid for further powers through a new devolution framework.
The framework sets out a flexible, three-level approach to devolution recognising that a one-size-fits-all model would not be suitable. Level 3 is a single institution or county council with a directly elected mayor, across a functional economic area or whole county area. This is the Government’s preferred model of devolution, but ministers have been clear that this will not suit all areas at present, and that the framework will instead allow areas to deepen devolution at their own pace.
It is positive to see devolution being extended beyond England’s city regions and further opportunities for MCAs. The LGA is clear that inviting every part of England to experience the benefits of devolution and decide for themselves what they need is crucial to improving opportunities and life chances for people across the country. Councils are keen to go further and faster in ensuring the whole of government takes a ‘local first’ approach.
The white paper promises a series of next steps, including the establishment of a new body focusing on local government data, and the rolling out of levelling up directors, and a new Levelling Up Advisory Council to provide independent expert advice on its design and delivery.
The Government has also published guidance on the £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), to be distributed by councils, providing information about the aims of the fund and the delivery roles of local partners. This is further confirmation of councils’ vital leadership role in bringing partners together, providing greater certainty and freedom to respond to local need, and supporting programmes under the priorities of communities and place, local businesses, and people and skills.
Quality rented homes
By 2030, the white paper states renters will have a secure path to home ownership, with the number of first-time buyers increasing in all areas and the number of non-decent rented homes down by half, with the biggest improvements in the lowest performing areas. The LGA said councils want all tenants to be able to live in safe, secure, high-quality housing and that government needs to ensure councils have the ability to establish landlord licensing schemes, as well as sufficient investment and powers to deliver more high-quality, sustainable and affordable homes.
Pride in place
The value of cultural and sporting engagement, alongside heritage, as a key driver of levelling up is recognised, with a £30 million parks fund, a £560 million National Youth Guarantee and increased cultural investment outside of London. While specific funding investments will help locally in restoring a sense of community and local pride, the LGA wants councils to be given the flexibilities to invest in facilities and activities that will make the biggest difference for their communities.
Tackling violence to create safer streets
The white paper includes new measures and further funding packages that will strengthen the work of councils and partners in tackling community safety issues. It also recognises and responds to the LGA’s calls for an extension of the Safer Streets Fund, which will allow councils to continue investing in resources to address crime and anti-social behaviour. The LGA believes previous recipients should be allowed to apply for further funding for projects.
Employment and skills
Employment and skills pathfinders, which the LGA has consistently called for, have been announced in the white paper. We look forward to more detail on these, and to working with government to improve the system now, to help people move into work or training. Investment in local skills improvement plans is also mentioned and as these cover technical skills only, the LGA continues to call for restoration to 2010 levels of adult skills funding to Level 2, and for the Multiply adult numeracy programme to be localised.
Healthy life expectancy
Improving public health, supporting people to change their diet and tackling diagnostic backlogs are three components of the white paper’s commitment to narrow the gap in healthy life expectancy across the country. Councils want to work with government to ‘level up’ health inequalities, and the focus must be on reducing poor health outcomes as well as economic imbalances between regions, says the LGA. These include interconnected determinants of health such as improvements in housing, education and employment, as well as ensuring a health-promoting environment. No increase in public health funding for councils runs contrary to addressing the stark health inequalities exposed by the pandemic.
Bus networks
Proposed improvements to bus networks are included in the white paper, including new powers of direction for mayoral combined authorities over key route networks and support for other local transport authorities to access franchising powers to deliver improvements for passengers. Councils will be seeking more clarity on what this renewed emphasis on supporting public transport will mean in practice and how this will be funded. The LGA wants to make sure every community is able to access a local bus service and urges government to plug the £700 million annual funding gap councils faced before the pandemic in providing the concessionary fares scheme.
Gigabit broadband rollout
The white paper states that by the end of the decade the whole of the UK will have gigabit-capable broadband and 4G coverage, with 5G coverage for the majority of the population. The past two years have shown how access to fast and reliable digital connectivity is an everyday necessity. The LGA is clear that with the right funding and opportunity to work in partnership with government, councils could play a far greater role, targeting communities most in need, driving demand and providing digital upskilling to support the rollout. The Government should empower councils to place a local digital champion in every area to help facilitate delivery and support providers to install gigabit-capable broadband as quickly as possible.
Education investment areas
New ‘education investment areas’ have been proposed, covering the third of council areas where educational attainment is weakest, while the Government will also consult on moving schools in these areas with successive ‘requires improvement’ Ofsted judgements into strong multi-academy trusts (MATs), to better access support. The LGA said it is vital that councils and schools are able to work with government towards ensuring pupils make up for lost learning and can provide holistic support, including for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, as well as allow councils to set up their own MATs.
