Ministers explore how to stop regional leaders misusing planned new spending powers
Source: The Guardian ·
Labour wants to make sure mayors and council chiefs in England can be held to account for extra revenues devolved to themMinisters are mulling over how to ensure that England’s regional leaders do not misuse their newfound spending muscle, as Whitehall prepares to devolve more revenue to local levels.Ideas under consideration include a new select committee in Westminster, enhanced reporting…
From the source
Ministers are mulling over how to ensure that England’s regional leaders do not misuse their newfound spending muscle, as Whitehall prepares to devolve more revenue to local levels. Ideas under consideration include a new select committee in Westminster, enhanced reporting rules and a new audit body focused on local and regional government. The Guardian understands the idea has even been mooted of allowing spendthrift mayors to be recalled by the electorate, as can happen to rule-breaking MPs. The government will publish a white paper on “rewiring the state” later this month, setting out detailed plans to hand over more income tax revenue to regional mayors. Rachel Reeves suggested the idea in her Mais lecture earlier this year, and it has been adopted by Andy Burnham’s government, which sees devolution as a big part of its growth policy. However, officials are concerned about how to ensure local leaders are fully accountable for what they do with the additional cash – including in…