An Opportunity to Shape Your Local Area
Local politics is often overlooked by campaigning groups but many of the decisions which have direct impact on your local environment are taken by local councils. Since the coalition government came to power, the relationship between local and central government has been changing: decentralising government is one of the current major themes – transferring power from central government to local authorities and the communities and individuals they represent. Whatever your political view, the truth is that now is possible a unique time to be able to shape your local area.
The Department of Communities and Local Government is presently undertaking a review of statutory duties that central government currently places on local authorities. They have identified 1,294 “duties” and admit that they are aware that this is not a complete list. (For those who are interested, “duties” are different from “powers” in that a duty which is something the Council must do and a power is something they may do i.e. discretionary).
You have the opportunity to comment on the duties and to challenge government on those which you feel are burdensome or no longer needed but you need to act quickly as the consultation is only open to April 25th. To make your views known, visit the local government website.
Source: Harold Forbes - http://www.hksuperh.com/Newsletter
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