Local Government White Paper - A missed opportunity!

4.45.55pm GMT Tue 7th Nov 2006

So why did we need this white paper at all?

The Local Government White paper came out on Thursday 26th October. The Lib Dems think that this is a missed opportunity to really reform the way the local government works - Ruth Kelly has ducked the challenge. Trudy Dean has written to the Editor of the Kent Messenger to explain how this is a missed opportunity.

Dear Editor

Last week's Local Government White Paper dropped a lot more proposals than the merging of County and District Councils ( Shake Up Plans Dropped KM 3.11.6)

The last year's discussions on changes of immediate real help to residents have been ignored and the long awaited Paper has proved a damp squib.

There will be no replacement of Council Tax with a fairer system based on the ability to pay.

Rates paid by local businesses will not be returned to councils to be spent on local services.

Unelected quangos will continue to spend millions of Kent taxpayers money.

A very small number of cities and all-purpose councils may get more, so far unexplained, powers...but it will be a choice of Government not local people.

The 'big idea' of Mayors elected by the people has proved so unpopular the choice will now be made by councillors instead Kent's Council Leader must now rule for four years at a time because government, not his fellow councillors, say so!

There are good bits. Government imposed targets are to be cut from 1200 to 200. Councillors will once again be able to properly represent local people at Planning Committees. But since these changes simply remove shackles put on by the Labour Government in the first place, there is little reason for rejoicing in the streets Labour supporters tell me these issues are all to be dealt with 'later'. Fine. So why did we need this White Paper at all?

Yours sincerely

Cllr Trudy Dean, Leader KCC Lib Dems