The English Devolution Bill Explained

Summary

The Labour government's English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill promises a major overhaul of local government in England, marking one of the most significant reforms in 50 years. The bill introduces a standardized framework for devolving powers, focusing heavily on mayors' roles and local governance efficiency. Key measures include changes to elections, new powers for strategic authorities, enhanced mayoral responsibilities, and the introduction of a community right to buy. Additionally, it addresses planning, housing, transport, and public safety. This bill seeks to empower local communities and reshape how England's local governments operate in the coming years.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Labour government has introduced the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, marking a potential major shift in local government in England.
• 😀 The bill builds upon the English devolution white paper, aiming for a 'devolution revolution' that reconfigures local governance.
• 😀 England's local government structure is complex, with a mix of unitary authorities, two-tier areas, and metropolitan councils.
• 😀 Labour is phasing out two-tier local governments and restructuring them into larger, unitary authorities for efficiency.
• 😀 The Labour government prefers mayors to play a key role in local governance, integrating them into a standardized devolution framework.
• 😀 The bill proposes a return to a supplementary vote system for mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections, reversing the previous first-past-the-post system.
• 😀 The bill bans individuals from holding dual roles as a mayor and a member of Parliament or devolved parliament.
• 😀 A new category of 'strategic authority' will be created, giving enhanced powers to combined authorities, combined county authorities, and Greater London authorities.
• 😀 Strategic authorities will have powers in areas like housing, planning, transport, and public safety, with mayors gaining increased authority over local issues.
• 😀 A key provision in the bill is the 'community right to buy,' allowing community groups to purchase assets of community value, such as local pubs or community centers.
• 😀 The bill also addresses issues like rent control, preventing upward-only rent reviews in commercial leases to protect tenants.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill introduced by the Labour government?

The bill focuses on reforming local government in England, particularly through devolution, empowering mayors, and introducing community rights like the 'right to buy' for assets of community value. It aims to restructure local governance and grant more powers to mayors, while also addressing housing, planning, transport, and public safety.

How does the structure of local government in England differ across various regions?

Local government in England is structured with some areas covered by unitary authorities, where one body handles all functions, while other areas have two-tier systems with county councils and district councils. Larger urban areas are managed by metropolitan councils and London boroughs. Combined authorities and county authorities are also present for greater regional coordination.

What are the key differences between 'unitary authorities' and 'two-tier areas'?

Unitary authorities are single-tier councils responsible for all local government functions, while two-tier areas consist of county councils handling broad services like education and social care, and district councils focusing on local responsibilities such as housing and waste collection.

What role do mayors play in the Labour government's devolution plans?

Mayors are considered central to the devolution process, with the government aiming to embed them more firmly within local governance. The bill seeks to standardize mayoral powers and responsibilities, making mayors key figures in decision-making across various regions.

How does the new supplementary vote system impact mayoral and police and crime commissioner elections?

The bill reintroduces the supplementary vote system, allowing voters to rank candidates with a first and second preference. This replaces the first-past-the-post system, which had led to mayors being elected with low vote shares in previous elections.

What is the significance of the 'community right to buy' introduced in the bill?

The community right to buy gives community groups the first opportunity to purchase assets of community value, such as local pubs or community centers, if they are put up for sale. These groups have a 12-month period to raise funds for the purchase.

What is a 'strategic authority' under the new bill?

A strategic authority is a newly defined category of local government, combining existing combined authorities and the Greater London Authority. It has enhanced powers and responsibilities, and mayors are encouraged to lead these authorities. The bill outlines different levels of strategic authority, each with varying degrees of devolved powers.

What powers will mayors gain over housing and planning under the new bill?

Mayors will have greater powers over local planning, including the ability to grant call-in powers for significant development applications and issue mayoral development orders. They will also be able to create mayoral development corporations for complex regeneration projects.

How does the bill address transport and infrastructure at the local level?

The bill grants strategic authorities powers to regulate micromobility schemes like e-bike rentals and mandates the creation of a key route network to manage local roads. Mayors will also have the authority to set traffic reduction targets for their areas.

What are the new provisions related to commercial leases in the bill?

The bill bans upward-only rent review clauses in commercial leases, which had previously guaranteed landlords that rent would only increase and never decrease, regardless of market conditions.