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Political and Constitutional Reform Committee: Draft Code for Central and Local Government. Professor Colin Copus, Professor of Local Politics Local Governance Research Unit, Department of Public Policy De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH Tel: 0116.257.7819
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Political and Constitutional Reform Committee:Draft Code for Central and Local Government Professor Colin Copus, Professor of Local Politics Local Governance Research Unit, Department of Public Policy De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH Tel: 0116.257.7819 Email: ccopus@dmu.ac.uk web: www.dmu.ac.uk/lgru
Purpose of Codification • Establish a positive relationship between tiers of government • Recognise and establish the value and role of local government • Formalise political and governing autonomy for local government • Protect and establish a continued existence for local government • Protect boundaries from central interference and control • Demonstrate trust in councils, councillors and officers • Share political and governing powers and responsibilities • Provide the framework relationships between councils and citizens
Creating Independent Local Government • Default position: Localism • Limitation on central control (legislative, political, financial, administrative, regulatory) • Always asking the question: is central involvement necessary • Freedom to act ( establishing and testing the general power of competence) • Change of political culture centrally and locally • Taking responsibility locally
What Does (should) a Code Cover? • The principles on which the code is based • Local Autonomy and Self-Government • Scope of local powers • Inter-governmental activity • Territorial autonomy • Political systems • Finance • Right to co-operate • Local referendum • Legal protection for Local Government
What Next? Creating Ownership Nationally and Locally • Consultation Process (5th October 2012) • Councillors to discuss the draft: • Party groups • Cabinet • Full Council • Scrutiny • Pass resolutions of support in principle and suggest changes • (From each of the above: speak with different voices) • Lobby MPs / ministers to construct support for a code strengthening local government
Finally • Respond (by 5th October 2012) – supporting the principle and suggesting amendments to strengthen the code and so local government