Idle threats scare no-one The Local Government Association has had some of its finest moments when battling the Government on council tax – and this week was no exception. In recent years, it has defended the reputation of local government – banishing the image of inefficient,councils – and turned the tables on Whitehall. Now, LGA chairman, Lord Bruce-Lockhart, has warned the Government that council taxpayers face soaring bills – or cuts in services – unless councils are funded properly on immigration. Speaking out on immigration issues is a brave move for the LGA. Often, it is a subject avoided, for fear of accusations of racism. But the issues facing councils are purely practical. It is just one more of the pressures facing council budgets in the run-up to the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 – and there is a long list of them. The numerous financial crises looming for local government, on top of the immigration problems outlined this week, are the cost of waste, rising pressures on social care, and finding cash to deal with staff issues such as single status, to name but a few. However, there are two major flaws with the LGA’s threat. First, no-one really wants to raise council tax and pass the buck to their residents. But second, and more importantly, any attempt to balance the books through council tax rises is likely to face a swift capping. That would be the same government which is continually increasing the list of burdens on councils without significantly increasing cash grants. The same government which has offered to allow councils to borrow to help fund single-status payments, refusing to give any extra cash for the problem. And the same government which talks about a grown-up relationship with councils, with scope to allow them to make decisions which fit their local circumstances. Kissing and making up After the tiff between the LGA and Audit Commission when last year’s CPA results were revealed, relations between the two seem to be back on an even keel. This week’s report on post-2008 inspection by the Audit Commission may even agree to give local people more of a say in the inspection process. But any thought of scrapping inspection has been strictly ruled out by the Audit Commission when it says: ‘What remains clear is that there will always be a need for independent, objective evaluation of how well local people are served that only independent regulators can provide.’ Or so the independent regulators say.
