Agenda item

Localism Bill

Minutes:

Tracy Luck, Head of Policy and Communications, outlined a report to provide Members with an update on the progress of the Localism Bill, summarising its key aspects and  implications for Slough Borough Council.

 

The Committee was advised that the practical detail on how the Government’s proposals were intended to work were not yet available and required urgently so that the Council could fully assess the impact of the Bill and plan ahead.

 

The Committee noted that the background to the Bill, that it gave new powers and duties to local authorities and new freedoms and rights to local people to run their lives and neighbourhoods in their own way.  It was anticipated that the Bill would be enacted shortly, with a probable implementation date of April 2012.  Some parts of the Bill would require secondary legislation and therefore not become law for at least two years.

 

The Officer discussed the four areas covered by the Bill’s reforms and the actions which underpinned  the key elements of decentralisation. The Committee noted the key provisions relating to Councils which included the abolition of the Standards Board regime,  giving residents the power to instigate local referendums on any local issue and the power to veto excessive council tax increases.

Members asked a number of questions in the ensuing debate including the provision for ‘capping’ of Senior Officer salaries. The Officer advised that she would confirm the detail of this once the final act was available.

The Committee requested a future update report when the Bill was finalised.

Resolved- That the information report be noted and that an update be submitted to the Committee once the Bill was finalised.

 

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