Margaret Eaton, Conservative group leader, LGA I believe the overwhelming priority for the LGA over the next year is to ensure that the promise of a new relationship between central and local government is realised, to allow proper and meaningful devolution. In November last year, the LGA and the Government signed a Central Local Concordat. The concordat explicitly recognised the democratic legitimacy of local government, and the importance of subsidiarity. However, less than six months on, there are worrying signs that the basic principles of the agreement are not being adhered to, and one could question whether it is worth the paper it is written on. Eco towns are a case in point. The Government has announced 15 locations that will go through to the next stage, many of which do not have the support of their local authorities. It is also looking at creating a new planning framework, solely for the purpose of endorsing eco town proposals, where there is no regional or local context for them. In pursuing an eco town policy which could result in democratically-elected councils being by-passed, the Government is acting as both judge and jury. How does this fit with the concordat's recognition of councils' rights to address local priorities and lead, shape and deliver services? If the Government was serious about decentralising power, we would not be facing the prospect of unsuitable developments being imposed on hostile communities. So, it is clear that there is still a great deal of work to be done, if we are to ensure that the Government's actions match the rhetoric. However, with a change of government now looking like a realistic prospect for the first time in more than a decade, it is equally important to lobby and influence other politicians. For those of us in the Conservative Party, the possibility of a new government under David Cameron presents great and exciting opportunities. Mr Cameron has already made a number of key commitments which demonstrate his loyalty to the localist agenda – regional assemblies will be abolished and their powers, in relation to planning, housing and transport, will be returned to local control; the Standards Board will be abolished; and the next Conservative Government will move towards a simple bloc grant method of distributing money from the centre to local authorities. The task for Conservatives in local government is to hold Mr Cameron to these commitments, and to persuade him to go even further. I want to be able to look back in the future and say, with my hand on my heart, that we have realised the devolution that all of us in local government want to see achieved. Sadly, for me, much of the responsibility for that will fall to someone else, since I am standing down as LGA Conservative group leader at this conference, having completed my three-year term. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of Conservative colleagues for the support they have given me. It has been a great honour and privilege to have served in this role, and I have enjoyed it immensely.
