Witless ministers have hammered councils like austerity punchbags | Richard Vize

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There is no vision for local government beyond the bare basics. It’s an illogical position that will have miserable consequences

The truth is finally out. Parliament has been told that ministers have no vision for local government beyond carrying out basic functions dictated by Whitehall.

Even while cutting real terms local government funding by 49%, the government usually at least pretends it sees some wider role for councils in shaping the future of their places. But evidence from Melanie Dawes, permanent secretary at the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, to the public accounts committee inquiry on local government spending has laid bare the true position.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2E992Y2

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