Don is not done

So Don Foster has crashed back into the lives of local councils and localism after years of being shadow Liberal Democrat spokesperson and a back bench MP. And he has done it in some style. At last week’s NALC’s People in Action conference,
http://www.nalc.gov.uk/Latest_News/NALC_Media_Release_20_September_2012.aspx

Don Foster MP, minister, department of Communities and Local Government, legally authorised, new powers for local councils and communities to help prevent the rapid sell off of treasured community assets and buildings so they can be protected. He said: “The Community Right to bid lets communities decide what's important to them and 'stop the clock' on sales so they have them the time to get together a bid, put together a plan and ensure that prized local assets can live on, this time run by the local community for the local community."
http://www.nalc.gov.uk/Latest_News/Media_Release_24_September_2012.aspx

If this was not enough. The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) launched its innovative “What next for localism?” inquiry at a fringe event at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference on Sunday 23rd September. The inquiry will look at the successes and failures of the government's localism policies so far. It will look further at how to get to make localism work better for communities and people.into the success of government efforts to give more power to local communities.

Don Foster MP, said: "I am a passionate advocate of localism and delighted we passed the Localism Act last year. We are working hard to promote awareness and understanding of the new powers and opportunities as well as now providing significant investment, help and information for communities and local councils. I’m keen to work with NALC on this and see what else we in Government need to do, so I’m open to your ideas.”
http://www.whatnextforlocalism.org

Walking to the Top

Rory Stewart, @RoryStewartUK, is a Conservative MP going places, and this could be great news for local councils if he wants to take them with him. I went to meet him to find out where his latest journey is going History is littered with politicians who were destined for great things and high office but have fallen by the wayside. The question is whether the MP for Penrith and the Border, Rory Stewart, is to be any different to the litany of those who have been laid to waste. His reputation as a man of unnatural achievement depends a little on the increasing impact of his CV – the giddy rush of soldier-diplomat-adventurer-writer-politician. He was elected to Parliament in 2010, having already passed through many of the key institutions of the British establishment, including Eton College, the Army, Oxford University and the Foreign Office where he had stints working in the British embassies of Indonesia and Montenegro. He resigned from the Foreign Office in 2000 and then embarked on his next big ‘job’, that of walking across Asia – a journey that was to last two years. A series of treks took him to the rural districts of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, India and Nepal, an expedition totalling around 6,000 miles, during which time he stayed in 500 different village houses. Continuing this passion for walking, his next feat was to journey across post-9/11 Afghanistan. This resulted in his first book, The Places in Between, which was highly praised by many, including the New York Times, which said it was a "flat-out masterpiece". He stepped back into politics after the invasion of Iraq in 2003, taking up the position of deputy governorate co-ordinator in Southern Iraq for the coalition forces, and wrote his second book, The Prince of Marshes, based on his experiences in this role. It too was critically acclaimed with The New York Times saying, "Stewart seems to be living one of the most remarkable lives on record”. But is there another side to all this internationalism? Well find out more from my interview in LCR magazine.

A step into the modern financial world

Local councils want to take the new localism agenda forward in their communities with taking more control over public services or having a greater say in the way they are run in their area but this is being hampered with arcane rules from the 19th century Act still in force. It is strange to think that all 9,000 local (parish and town) councils have to adhere to financial payment rules set out in the 1894 Local Government Act. Oddly at present all local councils must adhere to the Act, which requires the signature of two members of the council on every payment or cheque. Hardly a fine example of modern 21st century local government. The National Association of Local Councils (NALC) has been waging a decade long campaign with successive governments to change this historic oddity. We want local councils to be able to do electronic banking and modernise how they make payments like in other parts of the public sector. The 1972 landmark Local Government Act allowed other tiers of local government to make their own arrangements for the proper administration of their financial affairs. Now it would appear that this Coalition Government is finally going to do something about it. The Government has recently issued a consultation on a Legislative Reform Order, which could make the changes that NALC has been after for a while. If local councils are to be at the heart of localism and new ways of connecting communities to the levers of power then surely it makes sense that they should be freed of outdated and prehistoric legislation, which prevents them from working in a more efficient and effective manner. It must be remembered that local councils work towards improving community well being and providing services at a local level. Their activities fall into three main categories: representing the local community; delivering services to meet local needs; striving to improve quality of life and community well being. The use of cheques is falling fast. They made up just 3% of UK payments in 2010 - a 59% decline since the start of the century. Also the 'two signatures' rule also adds to the costs of businesses, or other public bodies, forced to receive cheques from the councils. So definitely time for a change. But this should not be dictated from Westminster, as there should be a flexible approach taken to this, which allows local councils to choose the best payment methods that suit them. Many local councils are likely to continue with the tried and tested process of two signatures, but the majority will move to new electronic systems. Proper safeguards will be necessary and normal banking arrangements now allow for remote approval of payments. Local councils will hopefully shortly be in a position to work towards the abolition of cheques for all payments. This reform has been on the agenda for many years and finally the Government are listening to us on this. We expect local councils to express their strong support for these proposals. This is an important step forward in reforming the many outdated rules, which prevent local councils operating in modern and efficient ways. For more information on the payments consultation please visit: www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/parishcouncilspayments. The closing date for responses is Tuesday 11th September.