Free local government from central and regional control; decentralise power; provide greater freedom and flexibilities to local government so that they can genuinely lead their communities; provide local communities with powers and flexibilities with which to accelerate economic growth; and simplifying and deregulating local government finance
1.1 Provide greater freedoms and flexibilities to local government
1.1.i. Prepare to phase out ring-fencing of government revenue grants to local government, working with other departments and HM Treasury to identify ring fences that could be removed as part of the Spending Review
Completed
1.1.ii. End the ring-fencing of government revenue grants to local government, except for the dedicated schools grant and the public health grant
Completed
1.1.iii. List of government grants to local government published at the time of the local government finance settlement for 2011/12
Completed
1.1.iv. Freeze Council Tax in England for one year in partnership with local authorities
Completed
1.1.v. Deliver proposals for long-term change to how local authorities are funded through the local government resource review (Phase 1) including local retention of business rates, giving councils greater freedoms, while retaining fairness in the local government finance
Jul 2012
Completed
1.1.vi. Bill introduced to implement Tax Increment Financing, local business rates retention, and provide powers to establish local schemes for council tax support in England
Dec 2011
Dec 2011
In progress
1.1.vii. Develop and introduce proposals to implement Tax Increment Financing, working with HM Treasury, so that local authorities can raise funds against the future uplift in their business rates base provided by an investment in infrastructure
Apr 2013
In progress
1.1.viii. Lead the localisation of Council Tax Benefit, working with DWP, to enable local authorities to develop local rebate schemes for the most vulnerable people in society. Consider what flexibilities local authorities should have to keep overall levels of Council Tax down
1.2 Create directly elected Mayors to enable the largest 12 cities in England to have Mayors from 2012, subject to referendums and full scrutiny by elected councillors
1.2.i. Develop proposals for directly elected Mayors, including significant transfer of power to areas that choose a Mayoral system
Dec 2011
In progress
1.2.ii. Introduce the Localism Bill to establish directly elected Mayors
Completed
1.2.iii. Consultation on Mayoral offer (including powers)
Sept 2011
Dec 2011
In progress
1.2.iv. Make an announcement on Mayoral powers
Jan 2012
Jan 2012
Yet to start
1.2.v. Hold referendums in England's 12 largest cities, and any other cities that choose to participate. If cities vote to have a Mayor, start the transfer of additional powers and full executive authority and rapidly hold an election
May 2012
May 2012
Starting
1.2.vi. Prepare cities for new powers and structures
1.3 Remove reporting burdens on local government from central departments
1.3.i. Abolish Comprehensive Area Assessment and cut local government inspection
Completed
1.3.ii. Identify exceptional areas where central government needs to retain an oversight role
Completed
1.3.iii. Develop and publish a single, reduced, list of the data requirements placed on local government by central departments, working with other departments and local government
Completed
1.3.iv. Develop and implement a process for managing new data requirements from departments, and from their associated inspectorates and regulators
1.4 Shift power over funding away from the centre and establish community budgets for public service delivery, working with other government departments and with places
1.4.i. Create the conditions for all places to pool and align locally controlled public budgets, and review centrally-funded support for public sector improvement
Completed
1.4.ii. First phase of Community Budgets launched in 16 places as part of a national effort to help families with multiple problems
Completed
1.4.iii. Publish evaluation of community budgets, including the take-up and effectiveness of community budgets, and publish results
Nov 2012
Mar 2013
Yet to start
1.4.iv. Subject to 1.4iii, start to implement community budgets across the country
Jan 2013
Apr 2013
Yet to start
1.4.v. In parallel, deliver proposals for the future development of Community Budgets, in phase 2 of the Local Government Resource Review
1.5 Make better use of existing public buildings, land and capital investment in public building projects
1.5.i. Assess supply of capital and assets and potential demand
Completed
1.5.ii. Work with 11 pathfinders to identify and tackle barriers, including those which prevent decentralisation of power, and develop implementation plans
Completed
1.5.iii. Position statement in place for all public sector assets and capital
Completed
1.5.iv. Publish data showing the location of public sector assets
1.6 Reduce the burdens and regulations on local authorities and reform best value guidance to help voluntary and community sector organisations compete for local authority contracts
1.6.i. Develop an audit of statutory duties collated from across Whitehall, by making an initial list available online
Completed
1.6.ii. Run and online consultation on the initial list and then collate responses
Oct 2011
Completed
1.6.iii. Stimulate diversity of supply and encourage open competition by revoking Handling of workforce matters in contracting and the Code of practice on workforce matters in local authority service contracts
Completed
1.6.iv. Revoke the statutory guidance, Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities,
Completed
1.6.v. Consult on and publish new light touch best value guidance for local authorities, to provide clarity on the scope for authorities to consider social value in their functions and clearer expectations for voluntary and community organisations in their relationship with local authorities
1.7 In line with the Red Tape Challenge, bring forward proposals to reduce and reform the stock of statutory instruments and regulations for which the Department has overall responsibility