Excessive centralisation is highly counterproductive for central and local government, according to Steve Leach and Colin Copus. They argue nothing fundamental will change until central Government gives up its ‘iron grip’ on local government finances and frees councils up to make genuine local choices

I t has been another year of austerity, crisis and neglect for local government and of piecemeal tinkering by central government. We’ve seen a bit of extra cash for adult social care, a marginal increase in the percentage rise in council tax, a proposal to further weight the funding formula in favour of the shire counties, and unnecessary and expensive reorganisation in Northamptonshire with the threat of further council amalgamations on the horizon.