Title

Political opponents Keith Mitchell and Peter Box are together leading the charge against the sub-national review's threat to local democracy. If there's one thing that unites councillors across the political spectrum, it is a threat to local democracy. And that's why the Government is treading on dangerous ground with its sub-national review of economic development and regeneration proposals. These plans to transfer strategic planning, housing and transport powers from councillor-led regional assemblies to unelected regional development agencies have proved a catalyst for uniting councillors from all parties. The Government is on the verge of making a huge mistake by creating a democratic deficit which runs counter to its wider aim of achieving greater community input into decisions, and will spawn huge opposition. As if to illustrate the point, it is remarkable that such a scenario should unite the two of us – a South East Conservative county leader, and a Yorkshire Labour unitary leader – in an unexpected alliance to oppose the Government's plans. We both, fundamentally, oppose transfer of powers that have a major impact on people's lives and property. It is unacceptable that such responsibilities should sit with quangos which have no direct link back to the communities affected by their decisions. Power over people's property, and the character of places, must not go to quangos which are entirely appointed, paid and instructed by the Government. The current regional assemblies, although not universally loved, have worked remarkably well. They bring councillors together with stakeholders representing business, environmental and voluntary sectors to make long-term decisions on development and major investment that cross local authority boundaries. However, the critical point is assemblies comprise a majority of councillors. In many cases, stakeholder assembly members have helped develop robust policies – on climate change, for example – but the assemblies' elected councillor majority ensures there is accountability back to communities. We fear the review has dealt a near-fatal blow to the successful partnership-working that assemblies have established over the past nine years. The Government's ambition is a single, regional strategy, which will combine regional economic strategies and regional spatial strategies into one document. There is little dissent from this principle of streamlining regional work – but great dissent over who should lead preparation of the strategy. The proposals allow local authority leaders ‘sign off' of the regional strategy, while stakeholders are to be ‘managed and engaged' by the RDA. The Government has, therefore, managed to alienate both sides. For example: l local authority leaders want a much greater say in developing strategy – as they have now – and do not see sign-off as sufficient. They want genuine influence on regional policies before endorsing the final result l stakeholders feel they are being relegated to a consultative role rather than the full involvement they have at present. So, what's the solution to this mess? One answer might be to keep the partnership approach at the heart of the current regional assemblies, or to find a new model for regional decision-making where local authorities collectively take responsibility. But the governing principle of either approach is that local authorities must be an equal or majority partner in any decision-making forum. We all know that in politics, you can't please all the people all time – the best we can hope for is to please all the people some of the time, or some of the people all the time. But these government proposals have achieved what no politician wants – upsetting all the people at the same time. Consultation closes on 20 June. Councillors from almost every part of the country have expressed their opposition to the proposals, with backing from the LGA at national level. We believe the Government must change its mind on these ill-conceived proposals before it is too late. Cllr Keith Mitchell is chairman of the South East England Regional Assembly, and leader of Oxfordshire CC. Cllr Peter Box is chairman of Yorkshire and Humber Assembly, and leader of Wakefield MDC

Title

WHITEHALL

United in battle for democracy

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING