Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
priorities. This combination of a less intensive performance-monitoring regime coupled
with greater discretion over the choice of indicators represents a significant transfer
of responsibility to local authorities and a greater emphasis on responsiveness to the
needs of local communities.
The manner in which the new performance framework is designed to operate is
explained in DCLG (2007a) and illustrated in Figure 19.3.
The changes requiring legislation were enacted in the Local Government and
Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and draft statutory guidance published. In the
Foreword to this the Secretary of State (DCLG) Hazel Blears wrote:
2008 will be a watershed year for Britain's local democracy. It is the year in which
the mature relationship between central and local government, debated for so
long and promised in the White Paper
Strong and Prosperous Communities
becomes
a reality.
It means greater discretion for councils to put the governing back into local
government: not just administering services, but thinking strategically about
what local people want and need …. The changes we are introducing offer
unprecedented opportunities for local leaders to set out their vision for their
communities, while empowering local people to help deliver that vision.
(DCLG 2007a Foreword)
Under the new arrangements responsibility for producing Sustainable Community
Strategies is placed with county or unitary councils (including London Boroughs),
consulting with district councils where relevant. These councils also have a duty to
prepare an authority-wide Local Area Agreement (LAA). Voluntary Local Strategic
Partnerships (LSPs) established at county, district or unitary levels continue to provide
the forum(s) through which priorities are identified. However all target-setting and
consequent financial, contractual or commissioning commitments proposed by LSPs
have to be formalised through the relevant local authority or other statutory body
which is a member of the LSP.
Local councils are expected to play a leadership role in these key and over-arching
partnerships. It is expected that local government will initiate and maintain
momentum in the LSP and ensure appropriate representation across the different
sectors including the involvement of local residents where appropriate and
scrutiny of the actions of the partner authorities in the LSP.
(ibid. para 2.5)
A number of supporting 'thematic partnerships' (e.g. relating to transport or
accessibility) are expected to provide the LSP with the necessary information on which
to make decisions, to participate in decision-making and to co-ordinate the delivery
of the LSP's priorities.
Under the 2007 Act a new duty is placed on local authorities to 'involve' their
local population (to come into force in April 2009). This refers not merely to
local residents but to all other parties (e.g. workers, visitors, businesses) who may
be affected by a particular function. As a consequence authorities are expected to
consider, as a matter of course, the possible information provision, consultation and
involvement opportunities they need to provide people across all their functions.
In general this duty does not replace existing requirements of this kind (e.g. in
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