The Take Part Framework from the Department for Communities and Local Government sets out the guiding principles and values for educating citizens to enable them to influence decision making and shape public services in their communities. It also provides practical advice on learning methods and gives examples of Take Part learning in action. It supports proposals in the Local Government White Paper published last month.The Framework includes plans to place a duty on local authorities to encourage residents to be involved in the local decision making process. Take Part learning programmes will help residents play their full part as active citizens in their communities, by providing them with the information, skills and confidence they need. The Framework sets out how more people can be enabled to acquire the knowledge, skills and confidence to have their say in the decisions that have such a profound effect on their lives and their communities.

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COUNCILS STRESS NEED FOR FREEDOM TO MANAGE NEW HOME PROVISION

Local authority leaders have stressed that councils need to be free to lead the management of local housing developments and that they must be given the right tools to meet the housing needs of their people. The statement came from the Local Government Association in response to reforms to the planning system set out by Housing Minister, Yvette Cooper, who said they would help local authorities deliver more and better homes.

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REVIEW OF COUNCILS’ REGULATORY ROLE ANNOUNCED

The Chief Executive of Westminster City Council, Peter Rogers, has been appointed to lead the review of areas of the law that are enforced by local authorities. His independent review will look at more than 60 policy areas with a brief to arrive at a more joined up approach to regulation, inspection and enforcement and to identify five key priorities.

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In a speech to the New Local Government Network, Yvette Cooper MP, set out the developing relationship between central and local government against the background of the White Paper, Strong and Prosperous Communities.Central government intends to step back and the relationship with local government will be developed through Local Area Agreements. Currently some 500 million pounds of funding streams go through local area agreements. The proposals in the White Paper will take this up to 4.7 billion pounds. Today there are 1200 national targets and indicators in a local area. This will be reduced to 200 indicators with around 35 improvement targets, plus statutory education and child care targets included in the LAA. There is a presumption that in future all area-based funding will go – unringfenced – through the LAA.

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RUNAWAYS POINT TO LACK OF SUPPORT FROM SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENTS

Young people end up living on the streets when they feel that overstretched social services departments cannot help them, according to a new report today. The study by the children’s charity NPSCC and St Christopher’s Fellowship also highlights the lack of emergency accommodation available for children who have nowhere else to go and calls for more support for social workers.

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CONFIRMATION OF FUNDING SETTLEMENT COMES WITH NEW CAPPING WARNING

Local Authorities have again been warned that the Government is ready to cap any councils judged to have proposed an excessive increase in Council Tax. The clear message came from Local Government Minister Phil Woolas when he announced a 4.9 increase in the funding settlement for councils next year. Meanwhile Local Government is warning ministers that they have some important decisions to make on the future funding of local authorities.

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This paper, prepared for the English Regions Network, by Regeneris Consulting, presents proposals for extending and strengthening the role of regional assemblies. It will be presented as a contribution to the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review’s sub-national review of economic development and regeneration early next year.The paper says that regional assemblies have proved their worth in making regional development agencies accountable for the decisions they make, the way they spend their money and the results they achieve. It argues that regional assemblies should be given the power to scrutinise a wide range of public bodies. This role could be extended to embrace other non-departmental public bodies including learning and skills councils.

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LOCAL AUTHORITIES URGED TO GUARANTEE SUPPORT TO SHOPMOBILITY SCHEMES

Local authorities are being urged to promote Shopmobility schemes when town centres are redeveloped and to support schemes where they exist. The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee has issued a policy statement aimed at local councils and detailing the case for Shopmobility.

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MORE SCHOOLS TO BENEFIT FROM CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAMME

The Government is claiming that the success of its Creative Partnerships Programme has shown that creativity is a key element in teaching. The 150 million pound programme has linked up 4,500 creative practitioners to 330,000 young people in more than 1500 schools in 36 different parts of the country to promote new ways of working and problem solving.

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The Society of IT Management, with a membership from local authorities, the police and fire services and housing authorities, has set out a view of the drivers that are influencing the transformation of local government. From the White Paper ‘Strong and Prosperous Communities’ it highlights the commitment to ‘challenge traditional methods of delivery ‘and to ‘increase the pace of change’. It also stresses the importance of sharing assets and systems, with local authorities and other public bodies working together to overcome administrative boundaries.Although the White Paper has become the principal change driver, Socitm sets out a broader picture of issues that are influencing change. The Cabinet Office’s Transformational Government Strategy presents opportunities for local authorities and public services to achieve a step change in service quality, efficiency and cost savings. The Lyons Report on local government finance is expected to propose radical changes. The Varney Report, which will be part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review, will report to the Chancellor with advice on the opportunities for transforming the delivery of public services and will play a significant part in shaping the big picture for local government in the coming years. The work of the Identity Forum in examining the evolving technologies used for identity management and considering how public and private sectors can work together to maximise efficiency and effectiveness is also likely to have a wide impact.

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