news, events, calendar, churches, schools
THE
QUEEN'S SPEECH
More responsability for Local Councils:
modernisation, laws on planning, tackling anti-social
behaviour, hospital discharge, and alcohol licensing. "Two steps
forward and one step back", says the Local Government Association.
Related links
| The
Queen's Speech digested by IDeA
Knowledge In a speech focusing mainly on crime and anti-social behaviour, the Queen also announced her government's intention to address several issues of key importance to local government. Those proposals, plus all the other reforms outlined in the speech, are detailed below. Continue the modernisation of local government - aiming to improve the delivery of local services through changes to financial management structures and greater freedoms for councils based on performance. Tackle bed blocking - aiming to ensure local authorities support older people awaiting discharge from hospital. Reform sentencing and criminal procedures - allowing for retrials for the same offence and allowing previous convictions to be heard by judge and jury. Reform the courts system - bringing together Magistrates' Courts and the Crown Court to work under a single organisation. Tackle anti-social behaviour - combating behaviour including graffiti and vandalism. Modernise laws on sexual offences - changing the framework of penalties for offenders. Improve international co-operation in tackling crime - increasing mutual assistance to tackle crime such as drug trafficking. Modernise licensing arrangements - including the abolition of fixed opening hours. Devolve power in the NHS - enabling frontline NHS staff, giving greater freedoms to successful hospitals while increasing accountability, and creating an independent health inspectorate. Reform universities reform proposals - introducing proposals to improve access to higher education. Establish a Railway Accident Investigation Branch - improving safety on the rail network. Enable referendums on regional government - enabling voting on for regions in England. Reform broadcasting and telecommunications - aiming to increase competition and empower the Office of Communications. Reform conservation and management of water - empowering the Environment Agency to manage water and promote conservation. Modernise housing standards - drafting a bill to improve housing standards and management of private rented accommodation by landlords. Manage nuclear liabilities - drafting a bill to ensure safety of nuclear facilities. Update the social security system - focusing on the importance of work and tackling truancy. Speed up the planning system - streamlining planning and ensuring the involvement of the community. Implement the Johannesburg World Summit agreements - tackling climate change and meeting energy needs. |
The
good, bad and ugly day for local government By John Harrison (Local Government Association) For the public to see the benefits of a raft of legislation in Queen's Speech, local government will be expected to deliver far-reaching and sometimes contradictory reform, the Local Government Association has warned. A range of proposals announced today in the Queen's Speech will have major ramifications for councils across England and Wales and many of their different functions and services. On top of a significant Local Government Bill, laws on planning, regional assemblies, anti-social behaviour, hospital discharge, and licensing signal a massive upheaval.Sir Jeremy Beecham, Local Government Association chair, said: "Given the effects on councils across the country, the Queen's could have appropriately delivered her speech from the steps of any one of our town halls. "Practically all the good intentions that the government says lie behind the speech will need to be put into practice by local councils, not least the fight against anti-social behaviour. Across the board, councils and their staff have been put into the front line, but still with too little say over the way the struggle should be fought. "The different pieces of legislation do not yet add up to a coherent philosophy so councils will have to deliver the changes while being pulled in different directions. Some relaxation of financial interference in our affairs is good news for local government, as is the return of licensing to democratic control. Let there be more. "We need more than ever for Whitehall to let go and allow local government to do the job that local people want us to do. We welcome the general move in that direction, but it is two steps forward and one step back" The general thrust of the Local Government Bill, to give us more freedom particularly over our financial affairs, is the way forward, but then the good work is undone by damaging proposals such as the fining of social services departments. Taking resources directly from the vulnerable and disabled to give to the sick doesn't seem to be a sensible way for jointly planning of public services. "But, if the Local Government Bill is generally good, the tendency for Whitehall to interfere unnecessarily is bad, while the fining of social services departments is a downright ugly scar on the face of cooperation between partner organisations that good social care planning requires." "The devil will be in the detail. Our lobbying will continue and intensify as work on these Bills progresses, and I expect to see more gains for local government and democracy on the way." Drinks' powers flow to town halls By John Harrison (Local Government Association) Councils will welcome new responsibility for alcohol licensing, local government leaders say. The government announced via the Queen's Speech, its intention to bring forward an Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Bill, transferring the function from magistrates to town halls. The Local Government Association has long argued for this reform. Councillor Susie Kemp, Chair of the LGA Public Protection Executive, said: "This is a major responsibility for councils to take on, but it is logical that we do. Deciding from who, where and when alcohol should be sold is best be done by elected councillors who are accountable to their local communities and already responsible for many related functions. "We are uniquely placed to take on board and understand the best interests of local communities and ensure the sensible use and sale of alcohol, balancing competing interests in an open and democratic way. "However, it is important that practical details are thrashed out and that local authorities have discretion to vary fees and charges based on local circumstances. We must also continue our lobbying of government to ensure that the transfer is not rushed, especially for the larger authorities. "Not least, it is vital that the full costs of running this service are transferred from magistrates to local authorities, so that other vital services don't suffer." More about the proposed reforms to licensing laws in England and Wales |