Local Government White Paper a Missed Opportunity

11.12.37pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 27th Oct 2006

Corporate Services Spokesman Cllr Mark Chapman

New Labour proposals for local government are missing most of the vital ingredients, according to Mid Beds Lib Dems. Corporate Services spokesman Mark Chapman said "This is clearly a missed opportunity to deliver local control and local accountability. We have no reform of the derided Council Tax, we have no reform of the voting system that we have seen succeed in Scotland, and we have a mish mash of proposals which will do little to encourage participation in local democracy". Lib Dems firmly believe that power should be devolved to the lowest level possible, and the desultory titbits that have been offered in the white paper do little to satisfy. Labour are still mouthing the words of the local agenda, but still don't understand what they mean.