Eight in 10 MPs say councils should have more financial freedoms and powers to build homes in their area and 72 per cent say they should have more control over local taxes, according to exclusive LGA polling by Savanta ComRes.
Four in five Peers and 58 per cent of MPs also agree that councils should be given greater powers and funding to drive employment and training schemes in their areas.
Over the past decade, England has taken steps towards greater devolution, but progress has stalled, with no new deals announced since November 2017.
The LGA is calling on government to bring forward ‘turbo-charged’ proposals for devolution that give all councils the power to meet the challenges and opportunities facing their communities over the coming decade, and for an end to devolution deals designed by Whitehall.
It wants to see devolution deals that are locally led, leave nothing off the table, and that are backed by adequate resources.
LGA Chairman Cllr James Jamieson said: “Bringing power and resources closer to all of us is the key for all our communities to thrive.
“The pandemic has shown that, with the right funding and freedoms, councils can improve people’s lives and ensure the successful delivery of those priorities that are shared by national and local government.
“Different areas of the country will need their own unique response in the coming months and years and the Government needs to empower councils to be able to play a central role helping the country recover from the pandemic.”
