Title

Happy New Year to all our MJ readers. As ever, the dawn of a new year brings the chance to stop and reflect on where we go next. Just a few days into 2014, and we have already hit one of the ‘lows' of the year – the sad death of the beautiful Jan Parkinson. Ironically, Jan was more full of life than anyone I know – even during her fight with cancer. She was determined no-one should be morose or morbid around her so let's look to the year ahead with optimism, inspired by Jan. It's true that 2014 is going to be a tough year for the sector. In short, you can expect money to remain tight. But, apparently, the cuts are not the worst thing about being a chief executive. Penna's survey of council chiefs found that the biggest gripe is having to deal with central government. The best thing is ‘making a difference'. So it begs the question: why? Shouldn't the resolution for 2014 be: deal less with central government and concentrate your efforts on ‘making a difference'? OK, it's a bit trite, but local authorities have spent too much time kowtowing to Westminster. It is time for the Government to understand they have a relationship with local government – not a dictatorship. Centralism is not something the centre is going to give up. It is up to local government to wrestle the agenda back with both hands and to stop asking for guidance. The tide has started to turn, with increasing calls for financial freedoms emerging throughout this year. If we cannot have the cash, give us the levers but, remember when the big ambition was the return of business rates? This week's front page says business rate retention needs to be reformed. I couldn't agree more but it adds that it lacks sufficient incentive for councils to boost economic growth. Surely the incentive for making your locality economically viable is ‘making a difference'? Doesn't local prosperity bring more rewards than any business rate retention scheme? You have the choice of focusing on central government or on making a difference for your locality. What will it be?

Title

A time to deflect centralism

By Heather Jameson | 09 January 2014

Popular articles by Heather Jameson

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING

Popular articles by Heather Jameson