- Media & Campaigns
- Press releases
- 2009
- August 2009
- Schools must not hold parents to ransom over uniforms
- LGA unveils new board chairs
- Film frenzy promises a happy ending for all
- Local intervention is more effective - LGA responds to Audit Commission
- Recession causes sharp drop in council income
- Public given say over bail accommodation locations
- No means testing for bus fares - councils
- Councils submit hundreds of ideas to make life better
Councils submit hundreds of ideas to make life better
LGA press release - 5 August 2009
Nearly 300 proposals have been submitted by councils under the first round of the Sustainable Communities Act, council leaders announced today. The Act, which became law in October 2007, provides a framework for authorities to put forward ideas on how to improve the quality of life in their local areas but which require changes at a national level.
The submissions from around 90 different councils up and down the country reflect some priorities already identified by national and local politicians, including how to revitalise British high streets and ways of tackling rising levels of youth unemployment. The Local Government Association will act as a selector body, drawing up a list of proposals which will be submitted to Communities Secretary John Denham at the end of the year. The Secretary of State will have the final say on what plans are given the go ahead.
Several authorities want to have the power to offer reduced business rates to help support local small and medium sized businesses. One council wants more detailed labelling to be introduced for food products so customers can make easier decisions about buying locally, another is arguing for a minimum standard of broadband access.
Cllr Keith Mitchell, Chairman of the LGA selector panel, said:
“It is great to see so much enthusiasm from councils, ready to expand their responsibilities to do everything they can to make life better for their residents and we would expect nothing less.
“The proposals which have been submitted are practical responses to specific local conditions, plans which councils are uniquely placed to be able to generate and upon which they can act. Unsurprisingly the recession is a strong theme as councils look to continue their efforts to offer support to local businesses and vital assistance to local people.
“These submissions will also be a valuable source of information for the LGA itself, ensuring the Association’s priorities reflect what councils are experiencing on the ground.
”Innovative projects will be created in many parts of the country as a result of these ideas and some will no doubt be rolled out more widely where they are shown to have the potential to improve things on a larger scale. Councils are in close, daily contact with their residents and are able to take advantage of that detailed knowledge to come up with plans that will really work.”
ENDS
Author: LGA Media Office
Contact: Sarah Cordey, 020 7664 3333
See also
-
Sustainable communities act submitted proposals The LGA has received around 300 proposals from local authorities. A spreadsheet provides a list of those authorities which submitted proposals and a very brief summary - more detailed information on each of the proposals can be found on the theme pages.
-
Sustainable communities act The Sustainable Communities Act 2007 aims to promote the sustainability of local communities. It begins from the principle that local people know best what needs to be done to promote the sustainability of their area, but that sometimes they need central government to act to enable them to do so. It provides a channel for local people and the councils which represent them to ask central government to take such action.