Council chiefs vow to raise standards

Local government leaders have pledged to ensure that no council is
rated poor or weak by 2008.

The Local Government Association’s manifesto, published this week,
also challenges the government and political parties to back
devolution to local councils.

LGA chair Sandy Bruce-Lockhart said central government’s “obsession
with national targets, ring-fenced budgets and unaccountable
quangos” was stifling progress.

“We are calling for the government to get off the fence and end the
UK’s status as the most centralised country in the developed
world.”

The manifesto sets out a vision of self-governing communities led
by councils free from Whitehall interference. 

– Manifesto from www.lga.gov.uk