Recommendation 160

Throughout their evidence session with us, the new Ministers emphasised the central role of local authorities and local communities in deciding the spending priorities for their area and managing their spending in line with this. 323 When questioned about how this may be impacted by the resource and expertise gaps in local government, the Minister for Democracy and Local Growth suggested that the act of empowering local authorities will make local government a more attractive place to work. He suggested that this in turn would support the recruitment and development of problem solvers with specialist skills within the local community. 324