Ministers confirm commitment to LGR
At a meeting of Labour local government leaders yesterday at Smith Square, London, we had discussions about LGR and devolution with ministers. My three key takeaways are as follows:
Probably most important, Prime Minister Burnham had agreed to come and speak and answer questions from Labour council leaders, though for family reasons he had to cancel.
He had also instituted a "three-line whip" for relevant ministers to attend - those present included Matthew Pennycook (Housing), Jim McMahon (Local Government Reform), Florence Eshalomi (Homelessness) and Baroness Blake (Resilience). Financial Secretary to the Treasury James Murray also spoke - and it is very rare for a Treasury Minister to brave a local government audience! First Secretary of State Lou Haigh delivered the Prime Minister's speech and spoke for the Government. The key takeaway from this is that the Government is seeking a close relationship - "one team" - with local government in delivering its priorities and devolving power. No PM has spoken to local government leaders in the Local Government Association HQ at Smith Square in recent times.
Local Government Reorganisation is on "pause" and ministers are apologetic for the delay, but confirmed it was the only option open to them.
I have the impression that the "rapid review" will likely release decisions by area rather than in a single release, and I left with the hope that many reorganisations will be delayed one year only (with "shadow" elections to new unitaries in 2028, and "vesting" of powers in 2029). The emphasis on the word "pause" was made repeatedly in an attempt to get over the message that this is still happening.
Devolution remains the order of the day.
Minister after minister, including Treasury Minister James Murray, emphasised the Prime Minister's determination to ask every Whitehall department to be faced with a question: "why is this decision being made centrally and could it be made locally?" This is a reversal from previous "central by default" decision making. The Deputy Chief of Staff at Number 10 North reinforced this by pledging to help transfer powers to localities. It was also confirmed that moves to create strategic development strategies across England will continue, with the announced geography, and this has been confirmed by Baroness Taylor. This will be the work of combined authorities based on the current councils, and where appropriate new unitary councils will replace them as they come into being. In my mind, this acts as a "cattle prod" to councils to get on with agreeing LGR and moving to unitary structures, agreeing combined authority structures, and to agreeing to elect a mayor. If this doesn't happen, even the most recalcitrant council leader will be forced to realise that not making progress will leave their residents with a second-class solution and reduced local powers - if they don't realise it then their political opponents will make it abundantly clear to electors who is to blame!
Duncan Enright
