If you’re tiring of the normal seasonal fare, take a look at the Labour Party’s website. There you will find a Coalition Christmas advent calendar. “Open the doors,” it invites, “to find the presents you were promised but won’t be getting this year.”
It’s a mildly diverting piece of virtual political mud-slinging.
Is the Conservative Party above it? Of course not. In announcing the Localism Bill this week (p25), the Tories offered more politics than detail on their site.
“Under Labour, central government has become too big, too interfering, too controlling and too bureaucratic,” it says. “This has undermined local democracy and individual responsibility, and stifled innovation and enterprise within public services.”
Well, it beats a pantomime.
The public will get its say at the local elections in much of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in May.
By then, we may be much clearer about the detail of localism than we are now. And it may be that the consequences are far from what we expect them to be today.
It’s debatable, for instance, just how localising a Localism Bill that replaces regional spatial strategies with a national planning framework can really be. And just how free are local authorities given that council tax rises are capped and business rates – at least for now – centrally redistributed? As one lobbyist said to me this week: “Councils are subject to rhetorical freedom but financial bondage.”
They are not without levers, however. And it’s in planning and place-shaping that many exist. It will be some time before we see how this plays out. In the meantime, here’s a thought.
With local authorities set to take on the function of joining up the commissioning of local NHS, social care and health improvement services, it is inevitable that health and well-being will be placed at the heart of many council services.
Education and social services are obvious areas, but why not planning too? If a council were to set a local target for reducing obesity, for instance, it may turn first to teachers as enforcers. But planners could emerge as key lieutenants too.
Already, perhaps, a planning application from Totnes Fried Chicken may not be looked upon quite as favourably as one from The Totnes Organic Wholefood Cooperative.
If the spirit of localism is followed through, it may become explicit. That’s when the full impact of localism would be felt.
Is that what was intended? Perhaps. Will it be accepted? That will be the Bill’s real test.
As EG went to press on Thursday night, the annual Story of Christmas event was set to begin. Founded in 1978, it remains the leading charity carol service of the property industry and London corporate sector.
Over the years, the appeal has raised more than £4m for charities associated with children, young people and the homeless.
With Story of Christmas president, Dame Judi Dench, her deputy, Aled Jones, and a host of other distinguished readers (this year’s roll call includes Benedict Cumberbatch, Ian Hislop and James Bond himself, Daniel Craig), it’s a hugely popular event. EG is a supporter and, like so many others in property, has done its bit over the years too.
Since 1992, we have been encouraging the industry to make donations to charities rather than send Christmas cards (pp8-11). And this year we reached an important landmark: over the past 19 years the appeal has raised a staggering £1m.
Numerous charities have benefitted over the years as a result of your generosity.
Long may it continue.
We wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We’ll be in print again on 8 January. In the meantime, we’ll be online at wordpress.egi.co.uk and www.estatesgazette.com.
damian.wild@estatesgazette.com
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