'Localism' could cost Rotherham £250,000 a year, claim

The coalition government wants to devolve power from the Government to local communities, councils and individuals as part of its “Big Society” plans.

But Cllr Stone, who is chairman of the Local Goernment Yorkshire and Humberside Partnership, said: “Rotherham Borough Council Leader Cllr Stone, who chairs the Local Government Yorkshire and Humber partnership, suggested that the bill was superfluous.

He said: “Local authorities are the most accountable part of government and are completely responsive to the needs of communities and local people.

“Across Yorkshire, they are already doing the things that the Localism Bill aims to achieve. For example, involving people in the way we deliver our services, and handing over the ownership of council buildings, parks, libraries and other vital neighbourhood facilities to be run more effectively by local communities.

“Council leaders have already concluded that the bill is simply not needed. We’re concerned that, when this new legislation is forced through by the Government, we’ll have to use our valuable and limited resources to administer and report on what we’re already doing, rather than get the job done.”

The Coalition intended the bill to reduce the reach of “interfering and controlling” central Government.

But research by the Local Government Association has shown that the extra be £5.5 million across Yorkshire and Humber.

Cllr Stone’s LGYH colleagues have backed the concerns. Vice chairman Peter Box, who leads Wakefield Council, said: “We do not need dictats from central Government telling us the best way to deliver services and support local people.

“We should be answerable to our communities, not to people based miles away in Whitehall with no grasp of what’s really needed in our local areas.