Localism Bill: Concern over '142 Extra Powers for Pickles'

The Localism Bill will help free "local government from the shackles of central government", a Minister told MPs, as the Bill came under renewed pressure for handing Communities Secretary Eric Pickles "more than 100 extra powers". Junior Communities minister Andrew Stunell said amendments and new clauses to the legislation tabled by the Government were each designed to improve the effectiveness of the Bill. He said: "This Government is committed to the radical decentralisation of power and control from Whitehall and Westminster to local government, back to local communities and individuals. "The Localism Bill does just what it says on the label." Shadow Minister for Communities and Local Government Barbara Keeley queried whether the proposed extra powers granted to the Secretary of State accorded with the spirit of the Bill. She said: "On new clause 12 clearly the Minister has been talking about the limits on power and we are still very concerned about the 142 extra powers for the Secretary of State in the Bill." Under the Bill, he would have the power to "amend, repeal, revoke or disapply" any statutory provision, she said. "Now we can keep calling that barrier-busting, but it ends up being the same swingeing power. And the difficulty for those who are opposed to this is it would leave local councils and the people who use those services at the mercy of the ideology of this Government and this Secretary of State." Read more on 24dash.