| 31 October 2006
CSS President John Deegan has welcomed the emphasis being given in the new local government white paper to the role of councils in determining the way forward for their local areas.
Mr Deegan said: “CSS has always recognised that local government plays a vital role in shaping our local communities. Effective political leadership is an essential component in ensuring that councils are strong enough to become place-shapers and represent local ambitions.
“The intention to give more powers to leaders of councils is one mechanism to achieve this. As employees of councils, members of CSS know that a balance has to be struck between clarity of decision taking and the need for local councillors to be able to properly represent their electors.”
CSS draws members from both types of strategic local authorities – county councils and unitary councils - although directors and assistant directors of county councils do form the majority of its membership. CSS members are therefore used to working with district councils on several areas of service such as waste management, planning and economic regeneration.
John Deegan was not surprised by the Government’s decision not to impose unitary local government. “I think most of us would say that unitary local government provides the best potential for both delivering good services and providing effective community leadership,” he said. “However, each local situation is different and it makes sense for local areas to find their own way forward rather than entering into inter-authority battles!”
CSS intends to make its own formal response to the White Paper when it has had an opportunity to discuss its implications more widely within the membership and to evaluate the outcomes of the Eddington, Barker and Lyons reviews. It is especially concerned that the Lyons’ finance proposals should ensure adequate capital investment locally in waste and transport.
Notes to editors:
1 CSS represents local authority chief officers who manage some of the most pressing issues facing the UK today. The expertise of CSS members and their vision is paramount in dealing with fundamental issues that affect all our lives, including transport and travel, managing waste, designing future living environments.
2 The CSS membership is drawn from all four corners of the United Kingdom. Its members are responsible for:
- providing professional services for three quarters of the road network
- two-thirds of the land area
- just under half the population of England and Wales.
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