Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 2
2
Accepted
Publish a clear vision for local government's role in the state by end of 2025.
Recommendation
The Government must assess the role of local government and, by the end of 2025, publish its vision for local government’s role in the state, including whether they see its role changing as a result of reorganisation and devolution to Strategic Combined Authorities. This vision should be submitted to consultation. Decisions around local government made by central government, including reorganisation and any changes to services and funding, should be informed by this view of local government’s role. (Recommendation, Paragraph 16)
Government Response Summary
The government announced a review of statutory duties placed on local government, launched on 3 July 2025, which will explore simplification and improvement of requirements over approximately one year, with recommendations to be tested with councils.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
12. The former Deputy Prime Minister announced a review of the statutory duties placed on local government at the LGA Conference on 3 July 2025. The review is focused on exploring whether the requirements placed on the sector to deliver duties could be simplified or improved, whilst retaining the critical services that communities expect. This will involve looking at legislation, guidance and others matters, such as reporting. 13. We want to be guided by the knowledge and experience of the sector, so are working in partnership with the LGA to ensure effective engagement and to test our thinking with local government experts. 14. We expect the review to continue for around a year, but where benefits can be delivered sooner than this we will do so. Any recommendations will be comprehensively tested with councils and agreed by relevant government departments, and if legislative change is needed, it will be delivered as soon as Parliamentary time allows. Services under strain