The Government believes that it is time for a fundamental shift of power from Westminster to people. We are promoting decentralisation and democratic engagement, and we are ending the era of top-down government by giving new powers to local councils, communities, neighbourhoods and individuals.
-
We are promoting the radical devolution of power and greater financial autonomy to councils, local residents and community groups.
-
We are abolishing Regional Spatial Strategies and returning decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils, and have given councils new powers to help stop unwanted 'garden grabbing'.
-
We have abolished the unelected Infrastructure Planning Commission and are replacing it with an efficient and democratically accountable system that provides a fast-track process for major infrastructure projects.
-
We are abolishing Labour's unelected tiers of regional government, transferring power back to local communities.
-
We will provide more protection against aggressive bailiffs and unreasonable charging orders, ensuring that courts have the power to insist that repossession is always a last resort.
-
We are enacting a range of measures to bring empty homes into use.
-
We are scrapping costly Home Information Packs, saving money for people selling their homes.
-
We are supporting the building of more homes through new incentives that will reward and support local development.
-
We are reforming social housing through measures to tackle overcrowding and under-occupation, improve mobility and enable social landlords to target support where it is needed most.
-
We are giving councils stronger powers to tackle unauthorised traveller sites and abuse of the planning system.
-
We have increased small business rate relief for a year, and are making it easier for small firms and small shops to claim rate relief.
-
We have funded a Council Tax freeze in England for 2011-12, in partnership with local councils.
-
We are creating directly elected mayors in the 12 largest English cities, subject to confirmatory referendums and full scrutiny by elected councillors.
-
We are introducing new powers to help communities save local facilities and services threatened with closure, and giving communities the right to bid to take over local state-run services.
-
We are giving councillors the power to vote on and veto large salary packages for unelected council officials.
-
We have scrapped Labour's plans for new bin taxes on family homes and are working with councils to improve the quality and frequency of rubbish and recycling collections.
-
We have increased transparency and accountability, by ensuring councils publish online their spending, tenders and contracts over £500, and by publicising senior pay packets for public scrutiny.
-
We are cutting the red tape, paperwork and form-filling that hinder local people from organising street parties, fetes and local community events.
-
We have given new guidance to councils to cut unnecessary street clutter, which wastes taxpayers’ money, harms local amenity and undermines road safety.