Yesterday, the long-awaited English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill was published. We will be writing more about its contents, including an explainer on what it says – that makes it a bit simpler and easier for everyone to understand – in the next few weeks.
We like time to think through a huge moment like this, so we can help our audience understand what it all means, so what we’re writing now is by no means exhaustive. That will come later.
Highlights
The Bill delivers on a number of things the government has previously shared around process and transfer of powers, which we have talked about in our Explainer on the English Devolution White Paper.
Here are just a few of the Bill’s key provisions and how they align with our work
Combined Authority accountability
Additional provisions for scrutiny in mayoral and combined authorities connect directly to our work with the Combined Authorities Governance Network and our proposals for Mayoral scrutiny.
Neighbourhood governance
As the White Paper mooted, the government has included in its details on local government reorganisation a requirement for councils to provide neighbourhood governance. With the move to larger, unitary authorities the requirement for developing the right mechanisms for engaging residents at ‘hyperlocal’ level is vital, and something that CfGS is exploring.
The role of Overview and Scrutiny
There are signs of a changing role for Overview and Scrutiny. For example, in giving mayors the power to appoint commissioners who can help them with their work, the government is also granting overview and scrutiny the ability to recommend for the termination of their appointment. This, perhaps, touches on issues of empowerment of Overview and Scrutiny – and the role for councillors in the scrutiny role.
Local Audit Office
The development to the local audit office is detailed extensively in the Bill and will lead the much-needed reform of the local audit system. It may also help to delineate between how audit and scrutiny functions work in combined authorities.
End of the committee system
We’ve already written about this news – read Ed’s post – announced in Parliament a couple of weeks ago. But we now know that once the legislation receives Royal Assent (and becomes an act), local authorities will have one year to move to the leader-cabinet system if they are currently operating a committee system. Our focus will of course be on supporting the authorities who are affected through this transition.
It should also be said…
The Bill is but one part of the government’s plans for rearranging local democracy in England. These extend beyond this Bill and we’re yet to see details on some of the other things mentioned in the White Paper. The landscape for local democracy is developing significantly in England. And it includes the local government outcomes framework, the NHS 10-Year Plan, and much more to come.
But this is not a moment to watch from the sidelines. It’s a moment to help define how these ideas are implemented — in real councils, with real communities.
CfGS will continue to bring together practical experience, governance insight, and democratic imagination to support the sector through these changes.
All news