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MPs could demand senior health and welfare officials appear in Parliament to explain why they are dragging their heels over plans for Total Place-style public spending. Clive Betts, chair of the Commons' influential communities and local government committee, said he was considering ‘calling in' senior officials from a range of Whitehall departments as part of his panel's investigation into the coalition's devolution and localism programme. "History tells us parties are better at talking the language of devolution in Opposition. This [inquiry] will cover the philosophical approach of the Government to devolve responsibility to councils… and test whether, in practice, that's going to occur." Clive Betts, chair of the Commons' communities and local government committee This week, Mr Betts was poised to announce a wide-ranging inquiry into the Government's policy blueprint for local government amid growing fears ministers' verbal commitment to devolution could yet be stymied by Whitehall spending cuts and culture of centralism. He said the cross-party committee wanted to undertake a ‘rigorous analysis' of ministers' devolution proposals within the context of the proposed cuts, including plans for a general power of competence for councils and greater control of former ring-fenced budgets. Another focus of the inquiry, Mr Betts revealed, would be ‘the possible introduction of place-based spending regimes' which could merge a range of public services budgets across a locality, with decision-making powers over how cash was spent, and services prioritised, devolved to local managers. The Local Government Association recently claimed the programme could deliver £100bn in savings over five years, and CLG officials have endorsed the policy. But former communities secretary, John Denham, warned other Whitehall departments – such as health and welfare – had been reluctant to loosen their grip over core NHS and benefits budgets. ‘I'd like to explore with Whitehall – particularly health and others – whether they have thought seriously about Total Place…and how it fits in with the broad devolution agenda and spending cuts,' Mr Betts said. ‘This is not just a CLG initiative, it [sic] has to get other departments on board and they must let go of their purse strings.' Total Place spending was piloted across 13 local areas last year, some of which delivered marked improvements in health, council and criminal justice services, often through the use of preventative programmes. Mr Betts said his committee's inquiry would also focus on whether Whitehall powers should be devolved directly to town halls, or whether other local bodies should be empowered to make decisions and control budgets. He added: ‘History tells us parties are better at talking the language of devolution in Opposition. This [inquiry] will cover the philosophical approach of the Government to devolve responsibility to councils… and test whether, in practice, that's going to occur.'

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WHITEHALL

Whitehall officials may be grilled over joint budgets

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