Devolution ‘must not distract from funding’
Two-tier council areas will be forced to reorganise if they don’t come up with their own plans under proposals set out in the Government’s English Devolution White Paper.
Two-tier council areas will be forced to reorganise if they don’t come up with their own plans under proposals set out in the Government’s English Devolution White Paper.
I hope colleagues across local government had a good Christmas and I am sure everyone is back into the swing of things as we enter 2025.
Wishing you a healthy and successful 2025!
As first was going to press, we were awaiting a delayed white paper on devolution. The Government’s intentions may be to decentralise power, but I am concerned that some of its proposals will undermine local democracy, rather than empower it.
We are in tempestuous times, with UK Government announcements expected in a white paper on devolution, local government reform, and the provisional finance settlement – all in the week before Christmas.
‘Real’ devolution means ensuring local communities that choose not to be served by metro mayors have the same opportunities to thrive, delegates at the LGA’s annual conference were told.
The LGA’s former Chairman and Conservative Peer Lord Gary Porter enjoyed sharing some ‘good’ gossip at the LGA’s annual conference.