The Localism Bill, the legislative framework for the "big society", gets its third reading in parliament this week. But the bill is riddled with contradictions. The aim of simplifying the planning system is nothing new. There's a legitimate debate to be had about planning and how disconnected it is from public concerns, but that's not what the localism bill is about. While trying to appease its core support by appearing to give more control over what gets built where, the government knows there's a chronic housing shortage. It wants to encourage developers by simplifying the system, while giving local residents the tools to delay and veto new homes. At the same time, local authorities are being offered cash to approve house building, but the budget for affordable housing has been slashed by 50%. Localism will create a lawyers' field day, but do nothing for the 5 million people on housing waiting lists. The most cynical aspect of the bill is the expectation that communities will bid to take over and run public services, at a time when hundreds of libraries, children's centres and other vital facilities are being forced to close by the cuts. People won't feel "empowered", but may feel compelled to fill the gap. But the appeal to volunteerism conceals the bill's potential to allow the private sector, sometimes masquerading as "non-profit", to bid for public sector contracts and assets. Read more on The Guardian website.
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