Nick is ConservativeHome’s local government reporter at Bournemouth this year. He is a Councillor in the London Borough of Wandsworth and works in public policy. In his first piece for Conservative Home, he reviews the possible highlights of this year’s conference from a local government perspective.
This year’s conference should play host to a battle of ideas concerning the future direction of local government. With all the major players out in force at the fringes, those delegates wearing local government hats are sure to enjoy the show. However, many will be wondering where the beauty parade ends and policy substance begins. After all, the Conservatives don’t have an enviable track record when it comes to localism in Government. Indeed, David Cameron was the first to acknowledge at the recent LGA conference that the Tories centralised rather than localised power.
But all politicians find it very difficult to give up power I hear you cry. Indeed look no further than the Labour Party’s 1997 manifesto to confirm this trend. One passage optimistically stated:
“Labour is committed to the democratic renewal of our country through decentralisation and the elimination of excessive government secrecy.”
Young shiny, New Labour jaws would drop aghast if, upon reading this statement in the heady days of 97 they were then magically transported to the year 06 confronted by some home truths about the current administration’s record. In the space of the last two years alone, money spent annually on quangos and other public bodies soared by 50 per cent, to £123.8 billion.
At this conference, it will be job of those working directly in councils, localist think tanks and advocacy bodies to convince the current crop of movers and shakers in the parliamentary party that localism isn’t a fad – it must be a policy reality.
Many would go further to say that it is integral component should a Conservative revival be sustained. Localism as a principle must be embedded. The signs are good, we have already committed to abolishing regional government – a hangover from Prescott’s experiment with the North East. Regional government will be joined in the dust bin by the shambolic Standards Board. Cameron has also suggested that a Conservative administration will disentangle the complex ring fencing which has plagued local government finance over the last decade. How this will work in practice remains to be seen.
So what will be the key debates, where we will they take place and more importantly can we expect anything new in terms of policy? I asked some of the local government movers and shakers to give me their hot tips for Bournemouth 06:
What is the must see event for local government buffs and why?
“The number one must attend event will be the Daily Telegraph debate chaired by Charles Moore (Monday 2nd, 17:45, the Purbeck Lounge, BIC) . It will pit advocates of both centralism and localism against one another. Should the Tory party run things from the centre or should we as a party at last accept a more localist approach to financing, policing and education?”
- Douglas Carswell, MP for Harwich and Clacton.
“Housing is a big issue in Camden, and Shelter's event "Building Hope" with Michael Gove (Sunday 1st, 1745, Durley Suite, BIC) looks good. "Governing in our Cities" (Tuesday 3rd, 1pm, Kensington Suite 1, Metro Palace Court Hotel) with Caroline Spelman MP also looks interesting. But, as usual, the best place to be will be the bar of the Highcliffe into the small hours of the morning....”
- Cllr Chris Philp, former Bow Group Chairman and Camden Councillor.
"I'm looking forward to the BSA fringe "If Not In My Back Yard, Where Should We be Building Houses?" with Sir Sandy Bruce Lockhart (Tuesday 3rd, 12:30 pm, the Westborne Suite, BIC). For me this is a crucial question for the localist debate - what happens when local priorities (e.g. preserving green belt) differ radically from national priorities (delivering new homes and getting young people on the property ladder). Localism has many attractive merits but it mustn’t become a NIMBY's charter. I'll be interested to hear Sir Sandy's views on this question."
- Richard Price, Local Government Analyst, Citigate Public Affairs
What in particular would you like the Conservative Party to commit to this conference?
"I’d like to see Cameron give teeth to his powerful commitment to abolish performance controls. What the Conservatives need to do is make it clear how national government will drive local improvement without bureaucracy."
- Dr Dick Sorabji, Head of Policy, New Local Government Network (NLGN).
A fundamental over-hauling of local authority funding and taxation. One of the principle problems for local government is town and county halls' reliance on central funding and therefore compliance with central dictates.
Local election turnout is low because the electorate have sussed that council administrations can only nuance policy and service delivery. A new source of funding, such as a local sales tax, would be fairer, create a downward pressure on revenue raising and restore the vital link between taxation and representation. From this flows the need to democratise the decision making process over other locally delivered, highly visible and emotive services such as the police and health.”
- Cllr Henry Smith, Leader of West Sussex County Council and PPC for Crawley.
"All our discussions with the Shadow Cabinet show that David Cameron will build on his clear commitment for a devolution to local people and the local councils that represent them which he spelt out at the Local Government Association Conference in July. This is an immensely exciting agenda and I hope this will be an immensely exciting conference for local government."
- Lord Sandy Bruce Lockhart, Chairman of the LGA.
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