Department for Communities and Local Government
A selection of images representing communities.
Direct contact 0303 444 0000- contactus@communities.gov.uk
- Local government
- Decentralisation
- Tackling burdens: Reducing burdens on local government
Tackling burdens: Reducing burdens on local government
The government is committed to transferring power and influence to local authorities, communities and individuals. We want to help people take control and get things done for their local community.
Local authorities are most effective when they have freedom to innovate and respond to what local people want. We want to reduce radically the demands, burdens and restrictions placed on local authorities by central government.
What have we done?
The Government has already taken significant steps to give local authorities greater discretion. We have reduced the number of central targets on councils, we are reducing the burden of inspection and reformed the way that grants are paid, so that councils have a much greater say over how money is spent locally.
After receiving lots of helpful feedback via this website from local authorities and others, we have produced the single data list, covering all central government's data requirements from local authorities. You can see the list itself and find out more about how our request for comments fed into its development by following the 'Single data list' link, below.
In March 2011, Greg Clark announced the Government's intention to take stock of the statutory duties placed on local authorities by central government. We published the draft list and invited local authorities and the general public to respond. We have now published a summary of the responses and the revised list which has been updated with feedback from the responses received. These are available to download via the link to the 'Review of statutory duties placed on local government' page below.
Seeking your contribution
We have issued a general invitation to anyone who has a bright idea about how to make their neighbourhood a better place to live but finds barriers in the way that simply cannot be resolved at local level. If you think you need central government's help to get things done, please visit our 'Barrier Busting' website (see link, top right).
