Localism Bill
Encyclopedia
The Localism Act 2011 is an Act of Parliament
that changes the powers of local government in England. The measures affected by the Act include more elected mayors, referendum
s and a new "general power of competence" which will empower local authorities to do anything which is not forbidden
.
, and given its first reading on 13 December 2010. The Bill completed the third reading in the House of Lords on 31 October 2011. The bill received Royal Assent
on 15 November 2011.
. Greg Clark
, the minister responsible for the Bill, has indicated that this would be possible. In November 2010, British Prime Minister David Cameron
said that his government would "devolve a lot of power to Cornwall - that will go to the Cornish unitary authority." Talks are currently under way between the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
and a cross party group, including the six Cornish MPs, as to how to bring about the devolution of powers to Cornwall.
used the Localism Act 2011 to seek provision for a further transfer of powers that would result in an additional devolution
of authority from the UK's central government, enhancing its powers over transport and housing and granting it competencies to fund and control schemes on its own terms.
Acts of Parliament in the United Kingdom
An Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom is a type of legislation called primary legislation. These Acts are passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster, or by the Scottish Parliament at Edinburgh....
that changes the powers of local government in England. The measures affected by the Act include more elected mayors, referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
s and a new "general power of competence" which will empower local authorities to do anything which is not forbidden
Everything which is not forbidden is allowed
Everything which is not forbidden is allowed is a constitutional principle of English law — an essential freedom of the ordinary citizen. The converse principle — everything which is not allowed is forbidden — applies to public authorities, whose actions are limited to the powers...
.
Summary
The official summary of the bill is:Timetable
The bill was introduced by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric PicklesEric Pickles
Eric Jack Pickles is a British Conservative Party politician. Pickles was appointed Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of the coalition government headed by Prime Minister David Cameron on 12 May 2010....
, and given its first reading on 13 December 2010. The Bill completed the third reading in the House of Lords on 31 October 2011. The bill received Royal Assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
on 15 November 2011.
Cornwall
It has been suggested that the Localism Bill could form a stepping stone to a devolved Cornish AssemblyCornish Assembly
The Cornish Assembly is a proposed devolved regional assembly for Cornwall in the United Kingdom along the lines of the Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales and Northern Ireland Assembly.-Overview:...
. Greg Clark
Greg Clark
Rt. Hon. Gregory David Clark is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Tunbridge Wells since 2005. Clark is currently a Minister of State in the Department for Communities and Local Government, with responsibility for overseeing decentralisation, a key...
, the minister responsible for the Bill, has indicated that this would be possible. In November 2010, British Prime Minister David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
said that his government would "devolve a lot of power to Cornwall - that will go to the Cornish unitary authority." Talks are currently under way between the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
and a cross party group, including the six Cornish MPs, as to how to bring about the devolution of powers to Cornwall.
Greater Manchester
In November 2011, the Greater Manchester Combined AuthorityGreater Manchester Combined Authority
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority is the top-tier administrative body for the local governance of Greater Manchester, England. The combined authority was established on 1 April 2011 and consists of ten indirectly elected members, each a directly elected councillor from one of the ten...
used the Localism Act 2011 to seek provision for a further transfer of powers that would result in an additional devolution
Devolution
Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to government at a subnational level, such as a regional, local, or state level. Devolution can be mainly financial, e.g. giving areas a budget which was formerly administered by central government...
of authority from the UK's central government, enhancing its powers over transport and housing and granting it competencies to fund and control schemes on its own terms.