Local government has welcomed new powers to drive localism, but raised concern at radical plans for school reform.
The LGA backed plans in the Queen's Speech to grant its demand for more independence. The Devolution and Localism Bill will bolster local authority and communities' power, while enabling residents to instigate referenda, and veto excessive council tax increases.
Communities secretary, Eric Pickles, said: ‘It will free local government from central and regional control so that it can ensure services are delivered according to local needs. And it will enable local people to drive real change through a streamlined, more efficient planning system.'
The Bill will abolish regional spatial strategies, returning housing and planning powers back to councils.
It will grant local authorities a general power of competence, create local enterprise partnerships, and new local housing trusts.
The Academies Bill will allow new providers to run state schools, while more schools will be awarded ‘academy status', freeing them from local-authority control.
Dame Margaret Eaton, LGA chairman, said town halls had long worked hard to give families as much say as possible over how their children were educated. But, she added: ‘This does not mean that schools can just be left to look after the education of our children without someone keeping an eye on their performance.
‘When things start to go wrong, only prompt, joint action by the council and school provider will put things right.
‘In the current economic climate, funding for education must be spent wisely. It would be pointless to create a new system to oversee the performance of local schools when councils are already experienced in managing the education system and have invaluable local knowledge,' she said.
The Queen's Speech in brief:
