LGA: Areas fast-tracked for devolution need funding and quick election decisions

Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association, which represents councils across England, said:

“Since the publication of the English Devolution White Paper just before Christmas, councils have moved quickly to digest the proposals and decide the best next steps for their local areas and communities. This has been incredibly challenging, given the tight timescale they have been given, but we know some have decided to put themselves forward to be fast-tracked for devolution and reorganisation.

“The LGA has always been clear that genuine devolution is key to unlocking the potential of local government and communities. We also know that local government reorganisation is an emotive and polarising issue for some of our member councils. We remain clear that local government reorganisation should be a matter for councils and local areas to decide. The diverging views across the sector underline and reinforce this position.

“At the same time as navigating these significant reforms – which will take up even more scarce resources and workforce capacity - councils continue to face huge financial pressures. Areas fast-tracked along this process will need extra government funding and support to have the capacity to deliver, and so their ability to provide existing services is not negatively affected. Running local elections is big undertaking for councils. Those who have requested elections to be postponed this year will already be working hard to prepare and put plans in place so will need quick decisions from government.

“Devolution and reorganisation are not the answer to the immediate funding crisis facing local services. The forthcoming Spending Review will be critical to the future of our local services and must ensure councils have the long-term funding and certainty to provide the services our community rely on every day.”