皇冠体育app

In a speech to the Local Government Association, Mr Shapps said the government has set a new course towards independence for local authorities where elected councillors are in the driving seat.

Mr Shapps said it is now vital that locally elected representatives use these new powers - being introduced through the Localism Bill - and their democratic mandate to steer their council in the right direction.

Radical reforms are handing back control to councils and communities so they are in charge of the decisions about housing, planning and economic issues that affect their area.

皇冠体育app government has abolished top down assessment regimes, which attempted to micromanage councils, and is introducing a new 鈥榩ower of competence鈥� that will give councillors the power to make decisions in the best interest of their local community.

Housing and Local Government Minister Grant Shapps said:

鈥淟ocal councillors are the heroes of their communities - they鈥檙e hard working, dedicated and often unpaid. But for years these democratically elected representatives have been forced to sit on their hands in the passenger seat of local government, whilst local decisions are dictated to them from Whitehall.

鈥溁使谔逵齛pp government acted quickly to shift this balance of power, and has set councils on a revolutionary road where the authority and responsibility of councillors will be restored, along with their ability to respond to what local people need and want. We鈥檝e put councillors in the driving seat.

鈥淚t is councillors who have the democratic mandate to make decisions in the best interests of their communities. So I urge them to keep up the good work and seize this opportunity to set the right course for their local area, and break free from the red tape and bureaucratic control that has kept them in the slow lane for so long.鈥�