The Local Government Act received Royal Assent this week, giving councils a raft of new powers - including the long-awaited General Power of Competence. In an interview with The MJ on the afternoon the Act passed into law, decentralisation minister, Greg Clark - who helped steer the Bill through Parliament - vowed to continue to fight central government to unlock even more power for local authorities. Mr Clark said he was keen for coun- cils to challenge central government where they felt they could do more to provide local public services. 'There was a strong flavour of that in the Public services White Paper,' Mr Clark told The MJ.
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