An article by Stephen Cirell and John Bennett in The MJ, 'A missed opportunity' (24 February), made interesting reading. It seems local councils are failing to take advantage of new powers under the Local Government Act 2003 to charge discretionary services and provide commercial trading. Similar surveys by the LGA have indicated a similar reluctance to make use of the power of community wellbeing. In the great municipal past, councils were at the forefront of enterprise and innovation. It was the Conservative Joseph Chamberlain who oversaw a whole raft of commercial enterprise in Birmingham, including council-owned utilities and water companies.
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