Jm. MP.2Mf

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JC

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Jm.

M A R S H AM

LONDON

kill

^ovt

CMIADO^

.

My

MP.

2Mf

STREET

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3EB

rcf:

Vour ref:

cSb

July

1979

UAcd. P*/u*- ( 1

A

n 7.7S I c i r c u l a t e d e a r l i e r t h i s week a d r a f t W h i t e P a p e r on c o n t r o l s over l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s . I ' ' s h a l l be m a k i n g an o r a l s t a t e m e n t on t h e day o f p u b l i c a t i o n , Wednesday, 25 J u l y . I now a t t a c h a d r a f t t e x t f o r the a p p r o v a l of colleagues.

You w i l l see t h a t t h e t e x t r e f e r s t o a p r o p o s a l t o r e v i e w t h e

s t a t u t o r y d u t i e s of l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s . I n my m i n u t e o f 10 J^uiy

to the Prime M i n i s t e r about l o c a l a u t h o r i t y e x p e n d i t u r e I r e f e r r e d

t o t h e c o n c e r n w h i c h t h e l o c a l a u t h o r i t y A s s o c i a t i o n s had e x p r e s s e d

t o me a b o u t t h e e x t e n t o f t h e i r m a n d a t o r y d u t i e s u n d e r e x i s t i n g

l e g i s l a t i o n . I s u g g e s t e d a r e v i e w t o see w h a t r e l a x a t i o n w o u l d be

possible. Departments w i l l of c o u r s e a l r e a d y have a f a i r l y f i r m

i d e a o f the changes needed t o a c h i e v e n e c e s s a r y s a v i n g s i n 1980/81.

I b e l i e v e , h o w e v e r , t h a t we a l s o n e e d t o t a k e a v/ider l o o k a t t h e

f r o n t i e r s of l o c a l government a c t i v i t y . A n o t e by my officials

i s attached o u t l i n i n g t h i s idea. A r e v i e w on t h e s e l i n e s , chaired

by a M i n i s t e r , w o u l d g i v e us an o p p o r t u n i t y o f c a r r y i n g o u t an

economical yet thorough study of the r o l e of l o c a l government.

I am c o p y i n g t h i s l e t t e r t o t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r , members o f t h e •• C a b i n e t and t h e H C o m m i t t e e , and t o S i r J o h n H u n t . • • •• • •

The

Rt

Hon

William

Whitelaw

MP





CONTROLS OVER LOCAL GOVERNMENT

DRAFT STATEMENT BY T I E SECRETARY OP STATE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

In the

debate on the

reduce bureaucratic The

A d d r e s s I s a i d t h a t we w e r e d e t e r m i n e d t o

c o n t r o l s o v e r l o c a l government

activities.

G o v e r n m e n t i s t o d a y p u b l i s h i n g a White P a p e r t h a t l i c t s

t h a n 300 c o n t r o l s f o r r e p e a l o r r e l a x a t i o n . w i l l understand that there

more

A l l h o n Members

a r e alv/ays some i s s u e s o f n a t i o n a l

p r i o r i t y o v e r which c e n t r a l g o v e r n m e n t m u s t r e t a i n c o n t r o l . o n c e we h a v e s t r u c k the

a u t h o r i t i e s h a v e t h e

g r e a t e s t p o s s i b l e d i s c r e t i o n i n c a r r y i n g out t h e i r

proposals

are wide-ranging;

responsibilities.

we p l a n t o t a l l y t o r e p e a l t h e

major p a r t o f the

c o n t r o l s l i s t e d i n the

s h a l l amend o t h e r

p r o v i s i o n s t o make them l e s s o n e r o u s , a n d

introduce



b a l a n c e between n a t i o n a l and l o c a l

p r i o r i t i e s we must s e e k t o e n s u r e t h a t l o c a l

Our

But

V h i t e Paper;

and we

l e s s burdensome a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a r r a n g e m e n t s f o r many

c o n t r o l s i n c l u d i n g some t h a t h a v e t o be r e t a i n e d .

Our

guiding p r i n c i p l e i n preparing

unless

there

simple;

i s an o v e r r i d i n g n e e d t o r e t a i n a c o n t r o l i t i s

proposed f o r a b o l i t i o n . ; we h a v e a s k e d o u r s e l v e s J t h i n k the

t h i s l i s t h a s been

list

being



c

We h a v e " n o t s»«M^ w h a t c a n we l e t g o ]

w h a t we must r e t a i n .

speaks f o r i t s e l f ;

i t i s f a r t o o l o n g and

I d e t a i l e d f o r me t o a t t e m p t t o g i v e t h e House a suinmary o f o u r

proposals.

I b e l i e v e that i n t o t a l these proposals

l o n g way t o w a r d s h e l p i n g l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s t o be more by the

l e a v i n g them v / i t h g r e a t e r

will

go a

efficient

f r e e d o m t o manage t h e i r a f f a i r s

without

i n t e r v e n t i o n o f government departments.

T h e r e a r e two p a r t i c u l a r a r e a s a p p l y i n g w h e r e t h e Government h a v e f e l t

t o a wide range o f f u n c t i o n s

i t r i g h t t o keep a p o s i t i v e c e n t r a l

involvement.

One

i s the p r o v i s i o n f o r appeals t o M i n i s t e r s by t h i r d p a r t i e s ,

whose i n t e r e s t s may be e s p e c i a l l y a f f e c t e d , a g a i n s t t h e of l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s . legislation.

. We do n o t

p a r t i c u l a r , should

decisions

T h e r e a r e many s u c h p r o v i s i o n s i n o u r

think i t right that i n d i v i d u a l s , i n

have t o r e s o r t t o time-consuming and o f t e n



costly court against

a c t i o n i n order

a local

a simple

to exercise t h e i r r i g h t to appeal

authority decision.

An a p p e a l t o a M i n i s t e r i s

a r r a n g e m e n t w h i c h h a s much t o commend i t :

t h a t i n most c a s e s i t i s r i g h t t h a t i t s h o u l d

The

other

I am s u r e

be r e t a i n e d .

c a t e g o r y o f p r o v i s i o n t h e Government b e l i e v e s

be r e t a i n e d i s t h a t o f d e f a u l t p o w e r s .

When P a r l i a m e n t

d u t i e s on l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s i t e x p e c t s t h a t t h e y w i l l M i n i s t e r s have a c c o r d i n g l y

out. powers.

responsibilities. not

been g i v e n

abdicate

be g e n e r a l l y a c c e p t e d ; i n itself

place

expenditure of l o c a l

t h e Government's p r o p e r

the existence

authorities.

with greater

t o see i f reductions

local discretion;

t h e many s t a t u t o r y d u t i e s

placed



b e c a u s e o f t h e n e e d f o r

councils

a n d b e c a u s e no r e c e n t

Government

the proper f r o n t i e r s of l o c a l

The Government w i l l

t h i s purpose.

local

c a n be made.

because o f t h e d e s i r a b i l i t y o f p r o v i d i n g

s e r i o u s l y considered

activity.

o f d e f a u l t powers does

And we a r e c o n s i d e r i n g t h e

upon l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s o v e r t h e y e a r s , economies;

argument

government departments r e q u i r e

There i s a l s o a need t o c o n s i d e r

therefore



authority

be s e t t i n g up a r e v i e v /

I h o p e t o make a n announcement a b o u t

this

soon.

Local authorities are democratically

elected bodies.

a b o l i t i o n o f t h e c o n t r o l s proposed today w i l l autonomy.

Me h a v e talc en a f i r s t

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y where i t b e l o n g s . t h i s new f r e e d o m , l o c a l overhaul the

reserve

t h e Government's c o n t r o l o v e r the c a p i t a l

authorities to provide

quite



any burden on l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s .

s t a t i s t i c a l information

for

places

be c a r r i e d

certain

I am s u r e t h a t t h e f o r c e o f t h i s

Me a r e a l s o r e v i e w i n g

has



I know t h a t t h e y a r e v i r t u a l l y n e v e r u s e d , b u t t o

a b o l i s h them w o u l d w h o l l y will

should

enlarge

which should

their



s u b s t a n t i a l step towards p l a c i n g

I am c o n f i d e n t

authorities w i l l

that,

given



g r a s p t h e o p p o r t u n i t y to"

t h e i r own a r r a n g e m e n t s s o a s t o t a k e f u l l

savings

The

now be a v a i l a b l e t o them.

advantage o f

But w i t h

f r e e d o m a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y must go a c c o u n t a b i l i t y t o t h e l o c a l

electorate.

1 s h a l l be p r o p o s i n g m e a s u r e s l a t e r t o e n s u r e

that

l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s p r o v i d e more i n f o r m a t i o n f o r the p u b l i c .

Mr Speaker, the Government w i l l be b r i n g i n g f o r w a r d l e g i s l a t i o n i i i the autumn t o g i v e e f f e c t t o today's p r o p o s a l s . Meanwhile, we are prepared to l i s t e n to r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s about them.





LOCAL AUTHORITIES: 1.

REVIEW OF

STATUTORY DUTIES

A t t h e l a s t nesting o f CCLGF t h e ACC

that local authorities find

t a b l e d a paper

arguing

t h e m s e l v e s hampered by a l a c k o f

d i s c r e t i o n over p a r t s of t h e i r s e r v i c e s because of the of mandatory s t a t u t o r y d u t i e s o r r e s t r i c t i o n s ,

and

existence

listing

a



number o f d u t i e s t o be removed i n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f r e d u c t i o n s i n

public

2.

expenditure.

In h i s minute dated

public expenditure to review a review

'10 J u l y t o t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r a b o u t

the S e c r e t a r y of State r e f e r r e d to the

s t a t u t o r y d u t i e s on l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s .

He

need

called

for

s i m i l a r t o t h a t on c o n t r o l s , t o r e p o r t b a c k i n t i m e

the necessary 3.



c h a n g e s t o be made i n t h i s autumn's

legislation.

I n t h e s h o r t t e r m , some d u t i e s do n e e d t o be r e m o v e d

modified to achieve

p u b l i c expenditure

or

s a v i n g s i n 1980/81.

D e p a r t m e n t s a l r e a d y h a v e p r o p o s a l s w i t h t h i s i n m i n d and need t o l e g i s l a t e e a r l y f o r e x a m p l e on s c h o o l m e a l s , t r a n s p o r t and

charges f o r planning a p p l i c a t i o n s .

need f o r a s p e c i a l r e v i e w

for

on t h i s a c c o u n t . •

•

will



school

T h e r e i s no

•

•

q.

There i s , however, a w i d e r

war

reviews

aspect

to a l l t h i s .

Since

o f l o c a l government have been concerned e i t h e r

o r g a n i s a t i o n and

s t r u c t u r e (eg H e r b e r t ,

or w i t h finance ( L a y f i e l d ) .

No

Mallaby

and

been

and w a t e r and

more have b e e n a d d e d o r c o n s i d e r a b l y d e v e l o p e d , p r o t e c t i o n , h o m e l e s s n e s s , r e n t r e b a t e s and p o v e r t y ) , and

personal s o c i a l services.

s u c h as p r o v i s i o n o f l i b r a r i e s ,

being performed without

given

notably

sewerage. such as

allowances

And

with

Some d u t i e s h a v e

b e e n removed f r o m l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s i n t h i s p e r i o d , local health services, electricity



Redcliffe-Maud)

s e r i o u s t h o u g h t has

t o the f r o n t i e r s of l o c a l government a c t i v i t y .

functions,

the

many

Many



consumer

(relief

of



long-standing

h a v e s i m p l y gone

s e r i o u s t h o u g h t as t o w h e t h e r i t i s

on



any

l o n g e r a p p r o p r i a t e f o r t h e p u b l i c s e c t o r t o be e n g a g e d i n s u c h

an 5.

activity.

I t w o u l d be w o r t h s e t t i n g up

a review

of l o c a l

government

f u n c t i o n s w h i c h l o o k e d beyond the immediate need f o r p u b l i c

expenditure

savings i n the next

f i n a n c i a l year.

The

suggestions





made by the, ACC a n d now t h e ADC f o r t h e r e m o v a l o f s t a t u t o r y

duties i n the context of expenditure be r e l e v a n t . local

savings would, o f course,

But t h e review would c o n s i d e r t h e whole range o f

g o v e r n m e n t a c t i v i t y p r i m a r i l y t o s e e how f a r t h e s e

responsibilities

are s t i l l

appropriate i n present conditions.

C r i t e r i a w o u l d need t o be d e v e l o p e d important

distinction,

regulatory activity,

f o r t h i s purpose.

One



f o r e x a m p l e , w o u l d be b e t w e e n t h e k i n d o f

such

a s town a n d c o u n t r y p l a n n i n g , t h a t o n l y

p u b l i c a u t h o r i t i e s can perform,

and t h o s e

s e r v i c e s f o r which

t h e r e i s u l t i m a t e l y a c h o i c e between p u b l i c and p r i v a t e p r o v i s i o n .

The

k e y q u e s t i o n s t o be f a c e d w o u l d i n c l u d e :

i.

does t h i s

a c t i v i t y n e e d t o be done a t a l l by l o c a l

authorities?

i i .

what would happen i f i t were abandoned?

i i i .

i fthe a c t i v i t y and

i s t o continue, i s i t s present

c o s t j u s t i f i e d o r s h o u l d t h e u s e r be c h a r g e d

or part of the cost? i v .

. .

.

• •.

at present performing

for a l l

,. .

a r e t h e r e , on t h e o t h e r hand, a c t i v i t i e s w h i c h a u t h o r i t i e s s h o u l d be p e r f o r m i n g

local

b u t w h i c h t h e y a r e n o t

a t a l l , some o f w h i c h may a t

p r e s e n t be p e r f o r m e d b y o t h e r p u b l i c b o d i e s government? 6.

scale

,

o r by c e n t r a l

......

.



T h e r e a r e v a r i o u s ways o f s e t t i n g a b o u t a r e v i e v / o f t h i s

kind.

A t one e n d o f t h e s c a l e w o u l d be a f u l l - s c a l e

C o m m i s s i o n ; a t t h e o t h e r , an i n t e r n a l

s t u d y by o f f i c i a l s .

between t h e r e a r e v a r i o u s p o s s i b i l i t i e s .

e x p e r t s charged

a few c i v i l

w i t h a requirement

In



One w o u l d be a s m a l l

g r o u p c h a i r e d by a M i n i s t e r o r s e n i o r o f f i c i a l l o c a l a u t h o r i t y people,

Royal

c o m p r i s i n g a few

s e r v a n t s a n d one o r two o u t s i d e

t o r e p o r t by a p a r t i c u l a r

deadline.

On t h i s b a s i s , t h e r e v i e w m i g h t be c o n d u c t e d

reasonable

economy a n d r e p o r t w i t h i n ,

s a y , 6-9 m o n t h s .

with



7.

The t e r m s o f r e f e r e n c e m i g h t be r o u g h l y

i.

t o review

as f o l l o w s :

t h e s t a t u t o r y d u t i e s p l a c e d upon

local

a u t h o r i t i e s i n c l u d i n g t h e c o s t s o f c a r r y i n g them o u t ;

i i .

t o c o n s i d e r how f a r i n t o d a y ' s c o n d i t i o n s t h e s e remain a p p r o p r i a t e

i n c l u d i n g how f a r t h e p r e s e n t

scale



and

c o s t i s j u s t i f i e d i n t h e l i g h t o f changing economic

and

s o c i a l p a t t e r n s ; w h e t h e r some d u t i e s s h o u l d be

removed o r m o d i f i e d

to provide

greater d i s c r e t i o n t o decide

local authorities with

the l e v e l of provision;

w h e t h e r f o r some s e r v i c e s t h e u s e r charged;

iii.

duties

t o r e p o r t i n 6 months.

s h o u l d be d i r e c t l y