Matthew Engel, a veteran journalist turned Herefordshire councillor, shares his insights on the challenges of local governance. Jack Shaw, a policy fellow and Labour councillor, provides a critical look at Labour’s upcoming devolution plans. Megan Kenyon, a policy correspondent, analyzes the potential impacts of these plans, questioning if they truly empower local communities or distance them further. The discussion delves into the complexities of council reorganization, funding issues, and the real-world implications for citizens and democracy.
Labour's devolution plans raise concerns about potentially centralizing power and diminishing the autonomy of smaller local councils.
The low compensation for councillors limits diverse representation, highlighting the need for reforms to encourage broader community engagement.
Deep dives
The Challenges of Local Councils
Local councils in England face significant challenges, particularly as a large portion of their budgets is spent on social care. Funding for social care has risen to occupy 70-80% of council budgets, leaving little room for addressing other local needs. Consequently, basic community services have been neglected, as more funding is allocated to unavoidable services, like adult and child social care. This systemic issue creates a situation where local governments struggle to meet the varied demands of their communities, without the necessary resources to enact meaningful change.
Concerns Over Devolution Plans
The discussion around Labour's plans for devolution raises concerns about whether these initiatives truly empower local councils or simply further centralize power. Critics argue that proposals to combine councils and enforce elected mayors may strip smaller councils of their autonomy, thereby diminishing local governance. The lack of resources and power for councils to act independently means these changes may serve more as a reorganization rather than a solution to systemic issues. Additionally, the proposed ballot measures for councils with populations larger than 500,000 could force smaller councils to merge, leading to concerns about representation and accessibility.
Reevaluating Councillor Roles and Pay
The role of councillors in local government faces scrutiny regarding their compensation and the impact on diverse representation. Many councillors have to hold additional jobs to support themselves due to low salaries and allowances, which restricts participation from individuals with varied backgrounds. This situation limits the political landscape, potentially shutting out skilled candidates who may not be able to juggle multiple responsibilities. The need for reforms in pay and working conditions for councillors could lead to a more representative and effective local government, encouraging diverse individuals to engage in community leadership.
Labour’s white paper on how further devolution might work is due to be released in the next few weeks. It has been reported that the government is considering a reorganisation of local councils including abolishing some councils and replacing them with larger unitary authorities
However, there have been suggestions Labour’s plans to bring power to the people, could actually make it more distant than ever.
Kate Lamble is joined by Matthew Engel, Megan Kenyon and Jack Shaw.