Lib Dems welcome report on local democracy

4.44.08am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 28th Jun 2006

Local Liberal Democrats have welcomed research from the Local Government Information Unit confirming "that most people want more local control of decision making, less government interference in local issues and less power for unelected quangos."

The research, part of a new pamphlet 'Whitehall to Town Hall: Strengthening Democratic Choice', argues for a fundamental rethink of policymaking in favour of more responsibilities for locally elected representatives. The research shows that:

66% want their council's main priorities to be decided by elected Councillors, not by Government.

52% believe the amount of local taxes should be decided by their local elected representatives.

Three quarters of those asked believe that a council's performance is best judged by local voters.

Cllr Tony Woods, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Northampton Borough Council said "Liberal Democrats have long argued for greater local control of decision making and a fairer, more locally accountable method of paying for those services. This report argues for just that at a time when the government are talking about 'new localism' and devolving power to neighbourhoods but are forcing our police, ambulance, fire service and local health services into larger, more remote and less locally accountable bodies.

He continued, "Nationally there are over 5,000 quangos. Locally, we have unelected, unaccountable quangos by the score. Most significantly for Northampton is the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC), which has massive powers to develop and regenerate the town. If they are failing to deliver, local people have no say and no vote. We cannot 'throw the rascals out' as we can in local elections for the Borough and County Council.

"The WNDC is the worst example of government diktat delivered by an unelected quango - but there are many, many more.

"What Northampton needs is a single Council, merging the powers of the Borough and County Councils with those of the WNDC and other quangos into a single, powerful, democratically accountable Council responsive to the needs and wishes of Northampton people, to deliver growth, regeneration and everyday services for Northampton and its citizens. It is time to cull the quangos and give power back to local people represented by local Councillors who respond to local needs or lose their seats at the next election."