COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (269) issued by COI News Distribution
Service. 17 November 2008
Councils have not
used a legal power that could help their area ride out tough
economic times, the Government warned today.
Local Government Minister John Healey, in a letter to council
chiefs, urged them to consider using this "wellbeing
power" to support their communities during the current
economic climate.
New research published today highlights the low take-up of this
legal power. The wellbeing power is a general power of competence
permitting councils to do anything except raise tax to promote the
economic, social and environmental wellbeing of their area.
However, while nine out of ten councils are aware of the power,
fewer than one in twelve are using it.
Mr Healey said the power could be a key tool for councils to ride
out the economic downturn, using it, for example, as a legal
cornerstone to invest in improvements to the local area,
attracting new businesses and creating new jobs for residents.
As long as the council's actions are in the interest of
local wellbeing, the power is available to enable a wide range of
actions - saving councils time, avoiding complex legal procedures
and cutting red tape. Given to councils in 2000, this "power
of first resort" can save councils from checking through
numerous different laws, and enables them to focus on achieving
their goals, unless it's specifically prohibited by legislation.
Speaking at the County Council Networks conference today, John
Healey said:
"Councils are already taking the lead helping their
communities through these tough economic times. But they
aren't making the most of this key tool.
"The wellbeing power could be used to tackle some of the
very real problems faced by communities during this economic
downturn. Some councils have shown the way, using it to drive
investment in their area, get local people into jobs or make
savings by delivering more efficient services. I'm determined
that more of them see this potential. That's why I am writing
to all councils today highlighting practical advice that will help
them put this key tool to best use."
A new document for councils has also been published today which
gives countrywide examples of councils putting the Wellbeing power
into practice:-
* For example, Greenwich council used the power to tackle
worklessness in their area, creating an employment agency in
support of the existing community training agency.
* In Torbay
the council founded a Development Agency using the wellbeing
power, which helped to boost tourism, economic development, and
the regeneration of its harbour.
* South Hams improved their
waste disposal services by using the power to partner with the
county council. They created a new, more efficient waste depot,
which has delivered a more environmentally friendly,
cost-effective service for the area.
* Nottinghamshire County
Council has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by using the
Wellbeing Power to create a non-profit renewable energy
company.
* A joint agreement between North Tyneside and
Newcastle City Council was facilitated by the Wellbeing power and
provided a whole new street lighting infrastructure. The move
helped to regenerate the local area, restoring civic pride,
improving house prices, attracting new businesses and reducing
crime.
* London Borough of Newham used the Wellbeing power as
an opportunity to invest in a partnership project with the local
PCT. The Local Finance Improvement Trust they created will build
new premises and provide social care services in three London
authorities.
* Using the Wellbeing power the Royal Borough of
Kensington and Chelsea improved the safety of their local area.
The council funded the employment of fifteen additional Community
Support Officers to provide more uniformed presence on the
streets, contributing to reduced street crime.
* Wychavon
District Council used the wellbeing power to take a main role in
the development of a community hospital and medical centre for
their local PCT.
* In Wakefield, families living on an estate
blighted by crime and drug-abuse were given a lifeline by the
wellbeing power. It allowed the houses to be bought by the Council
without a lengthy Compulsory Purchase Order process. The families
were able to move away from the area and get a fair price for
their homes - and the Council was free to redevelop the estate.
Notes to editors
1. The two reports were published today by the Department for
Communities and Local Government. The findings and recommendations
in the reports are those of the authors and do not necessarily
represent the views or proposed policies of CLG.
2. The document 'Evaluation of the take-up and use of the
Well-Being Power' finds that the use of the Well Being Power
was limited over the life of the evaluation as local authorities
had a tendency to use more specific powers to achieve their goals.
While lawyers played a critical role in encouraging or
discouraging use of the Well Being Power, awareness and
understanding was highest amongst local authority corporate
officers and executive members and lowest amongst partners and
community and voluntary sector representatives. Different factors
regarding take-up included the capacity and capability of the
local authority and the strength of local partnership relationships
3. The document 'Practical use of the Well-Being Power'
sets out how the Power has been used, suggests ways to promote
creative use, and points to further information source. It
features nine case studies in relation to: social housing; a
Development Agency; a waste transfer station; wood-heat technology
in schools; setting up an employment agency; street lighting;
formalising partnership arrangements with a PCT; community
policing; and a Community Hospital and medical centre.
4. Three reports providing more detailed findings on the
Wellbeing Power will be published simultaneously on the University
of Birmingham and University of West England websites:
5. The Well Being Power was introduced in the Local Government
Act 2000 to increase local authorities' capability to act on
behalf of their areas. It allows principal local authorities in
England and Wales to do anything they consider likely to promote
the economic, social and environmental well-being of their area
unless explicitly prohibited elsewhere in legislation.
6. The power has since been extended to eligible Parish Councils
by last year's Local Government and Public Involvement in
Health Act. A survey by Aberystwyth University found that 75 per
cent of parish and town councils were expecting to make use of the
wellbeing power, once it is in operation. Secondary legislation is
being drawn up, in order to bring it into operation later in 2008.
Any parish or town council can decide to use the power, if it
meets criteria that are currently being finalised.
News Releases: http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsroom