asked Her Majesty's Government:
What changes they propose to make to the policies and working arrangements of the Government Equalities Office following the signing of the Central-Local Concordat on 12 December 2007, both in general and in specific response to the agreement in the concordat (a) that “there should be a presumption that powers are best exercised at the lowest effective and practical level”; (b) that central government undertakes to “progressively remove obstacles which prevent councils from pursuing their role, including reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes, the ring-fencing of funds for specific purposes and the volume of guidance it issues”, (c) that the number of national indicators should be “around 200”; (d) that in relation to the negotiation of new-style local area agreements “this objective will require major changes in behaviour and practice from central government departments, their agencies, government offices, councils and local partners”; and what is the process and timetable for such changes. [HL1728]
The Central-Local Concordat, agreed between the Government and the Local Government Association (LGA), on behalf of local authorities in England, was signed in December last year. It commits both parties to a framework of principles to secure a new relationship between central government and local government. Discharging the rights and responsibilities of central government and local government set out in the concordat will require major changes in the behaviour and practice of both parties. The operation of this agreement will be monitored on a continuing basis, through renewed central-local partnership arrangements.
The Government are discussing with the LGA how to take forward the concordat, focusing on its guiding principles and specific commitments. These include encouraging councils to make effective use of their power to promote the well-being of their area; enabling local government to conduct a growing share of the business of government; central government consulting and collaborating with councils in setting national policies and proposing legislation; reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes and the volume of guidance issued by central government to local authorities; supporting and encouraging strong leadership and effective partnership working at local level; and increasing local democratic accountability of key public services, in particular the police and health services.
A single set of 198 national indicators for local authorities and local authority partnerships was announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 and consultation on detailed definitions of the set concluded on 21 December 2007, with the aim of announcing final decisions in February.
Local authorities across England are currently engaged in discussions with government offices on behalf of all government departments, including the Government Equalities Office, on the content of new local area agreements, which will take effect from 2008/09.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What changes they propose to make to the policies and working arrangements of the Ministry of Justice following the signing of the Central-Local Concordat on 12 December 2007, both in general and in specific response to the agreement in the concordat (a) that “there should be a presumption that powers are best exercised at the lowest effective and practical level”; (b) that central government undertakes to “progressively remove obstacles which prevent councils from pursuing their role, including reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes, the ring-fencing of funds for specific purposes and the volume of guidance it issues”; (c) that the number of national indicators should be “around 200”; (d) that in relation to the negotiation of new-style local area agreements “this objective will require major changes in behaviour and practice from central government departments, their agencies, government offices, councils and local partners”; and what is the process and timetable for such changes. [HL1746]
The Central-Local Concordat, agreed between the Government and the Local Government Association (LGA), on behalf of local authorities in England, was signed in December 2007. It commits both parties to a framework of principles to secure a new relationship between central government and local government. Discharging the rights and responsibilities of central government and local government set out in the concordat will require major changes in the behaviour and practice of both parties. The operation of the concordat will be monitored on a continuing basis, through renewed central-local partnership arrangements.
The Ministry of Justice is committed to the principles of the concordat and will continue to be involved in discussion with the Department for Communities and Local Government on how to take it forward, focusing on its guiding principles and specific commitments.
A single set of 198 national indicators for local authorities and local authority partnerships was announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 and consultation on detailed definitions of the set concluded on 21 December 2007, with the aim of announcing final decisions in February.
Local authorities across England are currently engaged in discussions with government offices on behalf of all government departments on the content of new-style local area agreements, which will have effect from 2008-09.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What changes they propose to make to the policies and working arrangements of the Department for Communities and Local Government following the signing of the Central-Local Concordat on 12 December 2007, both in general and in specific response to the agreement in the concordat (a) that “there should be a presumption that powers are best exercised at the lowest effective and practical level”; (b) that central government undertake to “progressively remove obstacles which prevent councils from pursuing their role, including reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes, the ring-fencing of funds for specific purposes and the volume of guidance it issues”; (c) that the number of national indicators should be “around 200”; (d) that in relation to the negotiation of new-style local area agreements “this objective will require major changes in behaviour and practice from central government departments, their agencies, government offices, councils and local partners”; and what is the process and timetable for such changes; and [HL1834]
What instructions and advice are being given to regional development agencies concerning changes to their policies and working arrangements following the signing of the Central-Local Concordat on 12 December 2007, both in general and in specific response to the agreement in the concordat (a) “that there should be a presumption that powers are best exercised at the lowest effective and practical level”; (b) that central government undertake to “progressively remove obstacles which prevent councils from pursuing their role, including reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes, the ring-fencing of funds for specific purposes and the volume of guidance it issues”; and (c) that in relation to the negotiation of new-style local area agreements “this objective will require major changes in behaviour and practice from central government departments, their agencies, government offices, councils and local partners”; and what is the process and timetable for such changes; and [HL1835]
What instructions and advice are being given to their regional offices in England concerning changes to their policies and working arrangements following the signing of the Central-Local Concordat on 12 December 2007, both in general and in specific response to the agreement in the concordat (a) “that there should be a presumption that powers are best exercised at the lowest effective and practical level”; (b) that central government undertake to “progressively remove obstacles which prevent councils from pursuing their role, including reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes, the ring-fencing of funds for specific purposes and the volume of guidance it issues”; and (c) that in relation to the negotiation of new-style local area agreements “this objective will require major changes in behaviour and practice from central government departments, their agencies, government offices, councils and local partners”; and what is the process and timetable for such changes. [HL1836]
The Central-Local Concordat, agreed between the Government and the Local Government Association (LGA), on behalf of local authorities in England, was signed in December last year. It commits both parties to a framework of principles to secure a new relationship between central government and local government. Discharging the rights and responsibilities of central government and local government set out in the concordat will require major changes in the behaviour and practice of both parties. The operation of this agreement will be monitored on a continuing basis, through renewed central-local partnership arrangements.
We are discussing with the LGA how we take forward the concordat, focusing on its guiding principles and specific commitments. These include encouraging councils to make effective use of their power to promote the well-being of their area; enabling local government to conduct a growing share of the business of government; central government consulting and collaborating with councils in setting national policies and proposing legislation; reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes and the volume of guidance issued by central government to local authorities; supporting and encouraging strong leadership and effective partnership working at local level; and increasing local democratic accountability of key public services, in particular the police and health services.
A single set of 198 national indicators for local authorities and local authority partnerships was announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 and consultation on detailed definitions of the set concluded on 21 December 2007, with the aim of announcing final decisions in February.
Local authorities across England are currently engaged in discussions with government offices on behalf of all government departments on the content of new-style local area agreements, which will have effect from 2008-09.
In keeping with the 2006 local government White Papers, LAAs are negotiated agreements with flexibility for local authorities and their partners to reflect local priorities.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What procedures are being put in place to monitor and enforce compliance with the Central-Local Concordat across all government departments, offices and agencies; and where the responsibility for this work lies. [HL1838]
The operation of the new Central-Local Concordat, agreed in December between the Government and the Local Government Association (LGA), on behalf of local authorities in England, will be monitored on a continuing basis through renewed central-local partnership (CLP) arrangements. We are discussing with the LGA the most effective arrangements for future joint working between government Ministers and leading local government councillors in England, under CLP arrangements.
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What instructions and advice are being given to the Housing Corporation and its regional organisations concerning changes to their policies and working arrangements following the signing of the Central-Local Concordat on 12 December 2007, both in general and in specific response to the agreement in the concordat (a) “that there should be a presumption that powers are best exercised at the lowest effective and practical level”; (b) that central government undertake to “progressively remove obstacles which prevent councils from pursuing their role, including reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes, the ring-fencing of funds for specific purposes and the volume of guidance it issues”; and (c) that in relation to the negotiation of new-style local area agreements “this objective will require major changes in behaviour and practice from central government departments, their agencies, government offices, councils and local partners”; and what is the process and timetable for such changes; and [HL1913]
What instructions and advice are being given to English Partnerships and its regional organisations concerning changes to their policies and working arrangements following the signing of the Central-Local Concordat on 12 December 2007, both in general and in specific response to the agreement in the concordat (a) “that there should be a presumption that powers are best exercised at the lowest effective and practical level”; (b) that central government undertake to “progressively remove obstacles which prevent councils from pursuing their role, including reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes, the ring-fencing of funds for specific purposes and the volume of guidance it issues”; and (c) that in relation to the negotiation of new-style local area agreements “this objective will require major changes in behaviour and practice from central government departments, their agencies, government offices, councils and local partners”; and what is the process and timetable for such changes. [HL1914]
Central government are committed to uphold the principles of the Central-Local Concordat. While the concordat reflects the devolutionary gains that have been made in recent years, it also signals a clear direction of travel beyond arrangements already in place.
An essential role for the Housing Corporation is to work closely with local authorities in providing affordable housing taking account of national, regional and local government strategies. The Housing Corporation has signed a protocol with the Local Government Association and has subsequently signed protocols with a range of local authorities across every region. The Housing Corporation's programme is allocated to registered social landlords and others. Distribution of the Housing Corporation's investment nationally is subject to national, regional and local priorities. Investment decisions by the corporation on specific projects are made in relation to a number of criteria including the quality and value for money of any proposed project.
Discussions are currently being finalised with English Partnerships (EP) on their future national programme and priorities for 2008-09 taking account of local and regional priorities. An essential role for EP is to work closely with local authorities, bridging national, regional and local government strategies and priorities to support local authorities. EP's investment nationally is subject to EP's objectives and priorities and published investment criteria including those relating to quality and value for money linked to the funding of individual projects.
The Government have taken the decision to bring together regeneration and housing work in a single new Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Establishing the HCA will enable a range of existing regeneration and housing delivery programmes, including that of English Partnerships and the housing investment role of the Housing Corporation, to be brought together under the auspices of a single delivery focused agency.
We want the HCA to be the best partner for local authorities. It will be subject to a duty to co-operate with local authorities in agreeing local area agreements and to have regard to every local improvement target specified in the local area agreement which relates to the agency when exercising its functions. It will also be a statutory consultee for the purposes of the preparation of a local authority's sustainable community strategy. We are working with the Local Government Association to prepare a supplementary Central-Local Concordat on housing and regeneration to show how the principles of the Central-Local Concordat will be fully reflected in this close collaboration.