Think Tanks
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Think tank warns against “danger of Whitehall blueprints” for localism
Following the publication of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee’s ‘Report into Localism’ yesterday, Simon Parker, Director of Localism think tank the New Local Government Network (NLGN), said:
“This new report endorses NLGN’s call for a local government ‘right to challenge’ to provide central services, and we call on Government to enshrine this in legislation. This would force Whitehall departments to take localism seriously and let councils determine what services they provide”
“We agree with the Committee that greater commitment to localism is needed across Whitehall. But while there would be some benefits in a clearer and more joined-up agenda from the centre – especially when it comes to accountabilities – we must beware the danger of Whitehall blueprints”
“As the committee argues, government’s job should not be to guide localism. Ministers must be responsive and work to support councils as they work with communities to shape their own distinctive local futures”
