Labour's proposed reforms to local government are raising concerns about the creation of 'super-councils' and the potential for increased council taxes.
Fears are rising about the local implications of Labour's plan to create 'super-councils' under local authority reform that has been accused of providing cover for tax rises. Angela Rayner's 'devolution revolution' will create more directly elected mayors, who will have the powers to impose a ' mayoral precept ' on top of council tax, for large parts of England.
Her reforms will see areas with a current two-tier system of district/borough and county councils streamlined into one authority covering around 500,000 people. But these will then come together in mayor-led 'strategic authorities' covering areas with a population of at least 1.5million, with powers over things like planning and public transport. Labour has insisted that the plan does not amount to super-councils and will increase local democracy, as decisions taken in Westminster are devolved to regional leaders. But the White Paper admits that one of the aims is to 'reduce the number of politicians' involved in decision-making, raising fears that they could in fact lessen democracy. There are also questions over whether elections due to take place in May will happen for authorities facing the axe in 2027. Ms Rayner has already signed off on the creation of mayors in Greater Lincolnshire and the combined authority of Hull and East Yorkshire, which are set to be elected next year. Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, Essex and Cheshire are thought to be next to bid to have a Mayor. See what the changes may mean in your area in our graphic below: The reforms may also force councils to delay elections organised for May 2025 as two-tier authorities are replaced with 'strategic authorities' (file image of a polling station) Unveiling the plans yesterday the Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner said England will go from one of the 'most centralised' nations to one where local leaders 'with skin in the game' have significant powers
LOCAL GOVERNMENT LABOUR PARTY COUNCIL TAX MAYORAL PRECEPT DEVOLUTION
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