Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office sites

Internet Links

• Better Regulation Portal
• Better Regulation Commission
• Regulation - Less is More
• Hampton Review
• Standard Cost Model Network

Feedback

• Website feedback

Local Government

Making a Difference: Reducing Red Tape and Bureaucracy in Local Government [PDF 315KB, 52 pages], was published in February 2002. It was a collaborative project between the unit, the Local Government Association (LGA) and the then Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR).

Scope

The unit, LGA and DTLR determined together that the scope of this study should include the following areas:

• statutory planning requirements;
• transportation issues;
• services for children and young people;
• land-use planning system;
• local government law reform; and
• funding regimes.

Background

The Local Government White paper 'Strong Local Leadership - Quality Public Services', published in December 2001 by the DTLR, provides a framework to allow local authorities more effective ways to deliver customer-focused services and lead their communities. Building on the commitment in the White Paper to reduce bureaucracy, the 'Making a Difference' project set out practical measures that will deliver real benefits to front-line staff and provide greater freedoms and flexibilities in the workings of local government.

Approach

As with all Making a Difference projects, front-line staff played an integral part in identifying the unnecessary burdens placed on them, and highlighting possible solutions.

A circular was sent to every local authority in England and Wales seeking their contributions to this study. Feedback from nearly 50 authorities was received. Building on this feedback, six workshops were organised, involving about 120 practitioners from over 70 authorities, to discuss the issues further and identify possible solutions.

Changes to remove or simplify processes and procedures were agreed with the relevant policy officials including timescales for implementation.

Key Achievements

Making a Difference: Reducing Red Tape and Bureaucracy in Local Government [PDF 315KB, 52 pages] announced a total of 37 tangible actions. The major benefits to be realised through the successful implementation of these actions include:

• reduction in the number of plans and strategies central government requires councils to produce;
• streamlining of the land use planning system, to make it simpler, faster and more customer focussed as well as to allow more effective engagement of the community;
• rationalisation and standardisation of funding applications; and
• greater flexibilities for councils to implement specific policies to secure higher quality and more efficient services by removing the requirement for local government to apply for permission from the Secretary of State to carry out certain activities.

Next Steps

Responsibility for delivery rests with the stakeholders. To date, 35 of the 37 actions in the report have been delivered. The project team will continue to work with stakeholders to ensure that the remaining two actions are delivered as agreed and are communicated effectively to the relevant staff.

For further enquires or information please contact the unit at psinfo@cabinet-office.x.gsi.gov.uk