Goals & Policy Detail - Local Government and Regions

BACK TO MAIN GOALS & POLICY DETAIL

This is what you say:

We want local and more accountable decision making at less cost.

What's wrong with things as they are?

Local government is bureaucratic and expensive to run
Local politicians don't seem to be listening any more than national government
Labour's proposed regions have been rejected by the people yet are still in place as unelected quangos
There seems no end to rising council taxes and declining services.

UKpopdems will make sure that decisions are made as close to the people as possible, so we'll:

Strengthen Parish and Community Councils, or their equivalent, to be the main decision making body closest to the people they serve, and give them the support they need to allow this to happen
In a radical reduction of waste and bureaucracy, dismantle the existing local government structures at town, metropolitan, county and district level
Set up five English regional assemblies that promote belonging and historical significance: Northumbria, Mercia, Anglia, Wessex and London.
If the people vote to reduce taxes (see taxation) then council taxes will be abolished. There will be no replacement tax.

What will this do for the British People?

You and your neighbourhood will be involved in, and decide on, local issues
A complete tier of expensive, bureaucratic and unrepresentative local government will be dismantled
You will vote directly on whether local taxes should be abolished
New English regional assemblies will be set up that have meaning and historical significance. The existing regional quangos, dictated by Europe, will be abolished.

Companion notes to the policy

Parish and Community Councils will need a lot of support in taking on a wider role. This will generally be provided by experienced staff currently employed by local councils. There will be no need for redundancies at local government level
Elected Regional MRAs will form the executive assembly. While representatives of Parish Councils will form an upper house. As with the Lords, two rejections by the regional upper house will result in a popular vote by all the people in the region.
Parish Councils may join together or separate as they see fit (but dependent on public approval). For example, where it may be advantageous for town decisions, etc.
A popular vote to increase or decrease national taxation, and by how much, will be held well before the end of the first term. The results implemented in a second term.
Popular votes will decide the location of regional centres. Probably two main centres per region.
Regional responsibilities will include perhaps 50% share of national tax spend. Parish and Community Councils sharing perhaps 50% of regional spend.

NEXT POLICY >>