Promoting Prosperity and Well-Being

In this page: One of the government’s main reasons for devolving power to cities and regions is the desire to promote economic development across different parts of England. This is because…

Continue reading

Effective Services and Value for Money

In this page: One of the key criteria for judging whether to change how we are governed is whether doing so would improve public services. At the same time, most people…

Continue reading

Democracy and Local Autonomy

In this page: This page considers the basic building blocks of democracy: representation and accountability. It also introduces the related idea of local autonomy. Our democratic system is primarily based on representation. In…

Continue reading

Areas and Area Boundaries

In this page: What areas should our local councils or regional authorities cover? This page considers this question. It deals with the kinds of areas that local government structures can cover and…

Continue reading

Governance Structures: Who Exercises Power?

In this page: This page describes the different structures for decision-making in local government. Decision-making can involve ordinary citizens, elected politicians, and representatives of business, trade unions, and other groups. Structures within decisions…

Continue reading

Policies: Which Issues Are Decided at Which Level?

In this page: One issue the assemblies will consider is what powers should be held by different levels of government. That involves two questions. The first is: Which issues should be…

Continue reading

Decentralisation to Local Neighbourhoods

In this page: In addition to proposals for new bodies operating above the level of local councils, some people argue for decentralisation of some powers to neighbourhoods below the level…

Continue reading

Local Government in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

In this page: This page sets out the current local government arrangements in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Most of the traditional county of Hampshire has a two-tier…

Continue reading

Local Government in the Sheffield City Region

In this page: This pagw sets out current local government arrangements in the area in and around Sheffield. South Yorkshire has four ‘unitary’ councils: Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham. These councils are…

Continue reading

A Regional Assembly

In this page: This paper sets out ideas for new regional assemblies in England. These would sit below central government and above local councils. People from large regional areas would elect…

Continue reading