Many of the provisions in the Localism Act have been promoted as creating new rights for communities. This blog outlines the fate of the proposals for local referendums, and gives an account of the content and current status, and discusses the implications of council tax referendums, the community right to challenge and assets of community value.

A raft of regulations, and in some instances guidance, is needed before various provisions come into force. The government has stated an intention that ‘many major measures’ will come into effect in April 2012 – not so far including those described in this briefing.