Why is the Government.....

[bazwillrun]

going to give greater powers to local councils ? in full knowledge of the fact that said councils will start to impose all sorts of swingeing taxes and levies. Then when people complain they can wash their hands and say "not us mate, not our problem we didnt do it, the council did it". Its bad enough now with all those petty little power mad bureaucrats throwing their weight around in the town halls, without giveing them more power, to swell their already brainless little craniums . Does Ruth kelly really think we are that stupid ?

[Hellion]

Actually I work for a Parish Council (the same as a town council but covering 3 villages rather than one town and nothing to do with a church!) we get sick of all the politics (with a little p) and Politics (with a big P) that gets in the way of actually getting on and doing the job. Basically most decisions at Parish level have to then be passed through District Council level and then County Council level. Because our Parish is made up of members of one party and district is made up of memeers of another they frequently 'oppose' a decision purely to score points. Frankly I think most people would find they're communities great improved if it was managed at a more local level.

[tell-me-more]

I agree Hellion, and I've also found people tend to think Parish Councils are church organisations.

To answer the original question, I suspect that government wants to give local councils greater responsibility. I guess they won't get enough money to take care of their new responsibilities, but will get the power to raise taxes etc. If they have to raise taxes to pay for the things that central government now pays for, then they'll look bad instead.

Oh, and yes, I think Ruth Kelly and several other New Labour MPs do think we're that stupid. And sadly, I think for the most part, they're right, and the Parish Councils will get the blame.

[reinganum]

This is a trap. The government want us to think they are giving more powers to councils, but it will only be the power to charge more for the hire of deckchairs, or whatever. The real power, for instance with regard to planning, or road building, or building (or closing) of essential stuff like hospitals or schools, will still be held by relatively remote bodies.