The Liberal Democrats have vowed to create a new renaissance in local and regional government in England. The party used its annual autumn conference to set out policy pledges, including a commitment to scrap all nationally-set targets for local government in England. The party renewed its call for a switch to the single transferable vote system in England's local elections. Another policy initiative was a pledge to give local authorities the power to scrap ‘unaccountable quangos'. On council tax reform, there was a promise to eventually raise, locally, three-quarters of all money spent by councils. Proposals were also unveiled to introduce a two-stage land auction system to replace the way planning permission is granted. Councils would ask landowners to submit sealed-bid letters stating the price at which they were willing to sell their land. The authority would then consult with local people and then auction the options.
