Local government was expected to receive a boost from Parliament this week, as the Queen outlined ministers' plans for new local economic powers, crime-reduction programmes and the scrutiny of looked-after children. As The MJ went to press, the Government was finalising its legislative programme for 2009. Aspects of the sub-national review were expected to feature highly, including plans to allow councils to levy supplementary business rates to fund economic regeneration. National media had speculated the CLG's SBR plan could be ‘parked', as ministers wrestled with last-minute changes to the legislative programme, designed to help businesses through an expected recession. But a senior Whitehall source said such reports ‘should not be taken seriously', and added that local government stood to benefit. LGA sources said ministers were likely to be tied to the SBR plan because ‘it is a key funding mechanism' for London's multi-billion pound Crossrail project, which will also employ thousands of people in the capital. ‘For that reason, we expect the SBR Bill to proceed,' a LGA spokesman said. Other Bills expected to proceed through parliament should include community-empowerment programmes and the Home Office's plan for direct elections to police authorities. Local government has fiercely opposed the latter. Last-minute changes to the Children's Bill, including government oversight of children's trusts, were also expected in the wake of the Baby P case in Haringey.
