Councils have called for the power to introduce legislation to Parliament and scrutiny powers over Bills before they get to the Commons, in a manifesto to be launched at the Local Government Association conference. The association also wants a power of general competence, and power to set business rates in the document, Who's in charge? LGA chairman, Margaret Eaton, said councils could rebuild faith in the political system. She said: ‘We need a radical shift to wrest power away from Whitehall, give local people a real voice, and give their locally-elected representatives the power to deliver what voters want.' * Giving councillors the power to propose national legislation * Giving councils a power to provide any public services not explicitly reserved for national government * Setting business rates locally and ensuring those tax receipts are available to improve local services. * Increasing the power of locally-elected councils to scrutinise new laws. * Giving local people more power over the health service
