This week we were pleased to see the final recommendations published by the Future for Local Government Panel.
As outlined by the Panel community wellbeing and placemaking are the beating heart of local government’s purpose and value. However the local government system needs to be strengthened aligned and resourced for councils to truly give effect to this core part of their purpose. Giving effect to intergenerational wellbeing requires coherence across the wider system including the regulatory environment and relationships with central government. It will also require significant investment in councils and local activities.
Co-Lab submitted its view to the Panel. It largely focused on the concept of subsidiarity – allocating responsibility to achieve the most effective outcomes. We are pleased to see that some of the recommendations could enable this such as providing Local Government with certainty about its mandate or new tools for effective governance. We believe that achieving subsidiarity will come down to the flexibility in the system design to allow this allocation of responsibility and to ensure that whoever has responsibility is enabled to succeed.
We understand that Central Government will be considering any change as a result of the report after the election. In the meantime it’s an insightful report. Check it out here https://lnkd.in/gWe7z-fw
