Plans outline more local service control

Neighbourhoods are to win greater powers over services, the
government announced this week.

In its second five-year plan, the Office of the Deputy Prime
Minister said neighbourhoods should have a greater say in decisions
that affect them. This could involve anything from greater rights
of information for communities to the ability to commission or
manage services.

But the plans are unlikely to bring significant changes to social
care.

The report suggests the stronger form of devolution will benefit
only locally based environmental or community safety services
rather than social care.

It promises a broad national framework within which councils can
empower their local communities. But it stops short of imposing a
model of neighbourhood devolution or setting up new authorities
below the level of local government.

The five-year plan also calls for councillors to become
“mini-mayors”, championing the interests of their wards.

  • Sustainable Communities: People, Places and Prosperity,
    available from www.odpm.gov.uk

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