I have read a lot in recent weeks about the forces of efficiency and innovation that would be unleashed were national government to devolve more powers, particularly fund-raising powers, to local authorities. I agree wholeheartedly with these arguments. I think there is sufficient evidence to prove that not only is local government the most efficient part of the public sector but, at it's best it can also be the most creative and dynamic. Therefore it is with regret that I am drawn to saying there are two fundamental problems that stand in the way of the sort of devolution that we crave in local government.
展开▼
