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WHITEHALL

Soap Box

Ben Page calls for clarity on central and local government responsibilities under localism

Oh happy days. I do wish central government would hurry up and decide what it will decide and what it will leave to localities. 

At present, a great deal of confusion seems to be present. It is clear that local government must not be allowed to increase taxation by more than a few per cent without a binding referendum, but it also appears that the number of times bins are emptied should ideally be mandated from the centre too, that Union Jacks should be flown on certain days, and that planning officers must work harder at weekends when travellers might be more likely to start laying blacktop. Etcetera.

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