News of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities

Indietro United Kingdom local authorities limited by over-regulation and funding issues, says Council of Europe Congress

The capacity of the United Kingdom local authorities to perform their tasks effectively is limited by over-regulation, “rather heavy” supervision by higher-level authorities and issues related to funding, according to the 46-nation Council of Europe’s Congress of Local and Regional Authorities.

The Congress adopted its second report on the United Kingdom’s application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, a binding international treaty ratified by the UK in 1998.

The report welcomes the UK’s adoption of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016, allowing for the introduction of directly elected mayors in some English regions. It also welcomes the government’s Levelling Up White Paper and initiatives by the Scottish Parliament to incorporate the European Charter into Scottish law.

At the same time, the Congress notes that several shortcomings identified in 2014 have yet to be addressed and expresses concern over a number of issues.

Although local authorities have general competences set out in law, says the report, in practice over-regulation narrows their scope for action and there is significant dependence on national funding.

Local authorities are also limited in their ability to raise and spend financial resources freely, according to the Congress. They lack adequate and commensurate funding, and the “financial equalisation mechanism” is not sufficiently transparent and predictable.

The Congress recommends a reform of local government funding to bring the situation in line with the European Charter. The UK should also extend the application of the Charter to include the Greater London Authority and local authorities in Northern Ireland.

In addition, the Congress considers that the UK should ratify the Additional Protocol to the Charter – signed in 2009 – on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority.

The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Levelling Up, The Union and Constitution of the United Kingdom, Neil O’Brien, addressed the Congress and had an exchange of views with its members.

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