Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Task Force relate to the Local Government White paper?
The White paper sets out the Government's ambition to reduce central targetry to allow services to be more accountable to citizens and use the Local Area Agreement as the only place where targets on local government and its partners can be agreed, making space for more innovative local solutions. The Task Force is part of the process for delivering the new performance management framework and culture.

Isn't the CSR process going to reduce performance targets anyway?
Yes, the CSR will set the priority national outcomes which will be measured by a single set of 200 outcome based indicators against which local government and its partners will be measured. The task force will want to be involved in testing out the practicality of the new indicator set. It also wants to highlight the need to prevent any separate performance management regimes being established by the back door. But targets are only one aspect of the monitoring and regulation of local services by central government and the work of the Task Force will be to look at burdens beyond PIs.

Others have looked at this issue before, what makes this any different?
Three things:

  1. This review is being conducted by local government officers not civil servants or inspectors, thereby giving a practitioners' perspective direct to Ministers
  2. Joined up experience: Through the LAA we have the experience of joining various strands of Government up on the ground and can therefore easily identify the duplication and overlap that make reporting on performance burdensome.
  3. Timing: Now is the time to make the most of opportunity the 2006 Local Government White Paper presents to change things and ensure CSR 07 sustains a devolutionary culture.

Is this review just about performance indicators?
No, performance indicators will of course play a large part because of the CSR process but we are interpreting 'burdens' in the widest sense, as any piece of bureaucracy that impedes innovation, quality service delivery, cost, or proves to be a distraction from key business. This could be plans, strategies, funding programmes, guidance, negotiations, approvals etc.

What do you hope to achieve?
At present 80 per cent of reporting is up to central government on top-down priorities. We aim to redress that imbalance and thereby contribute towards a new working relationship between central and local government that is more equitable and efficient to allow local government sufficient autonomy to be able to provide quality services that meet the needs of local communities. It is also essential that local government is able to report on performance to its communities in a way that is clear, unambiguous and meaningful.

How will you involve local authorities?
Communication with our colleagues in local government is key to the success of the Task Force. We would encourage as many authorities, groups and networks to respond to our calls for evidence and submit their examples of burdens for consideration. The more evidence we have the more confidence everyone can have in the recommendations we make.

How does the Task Force operate?
Each member of the Task Force will lead one or more reviews. But we cannot do this on our own. So we will be identifying key networks and associations to liaise with and establishing a small group of associate chief executives/directors to contribute to each review and develop the dialogue with the Government Department. Each review will be assisted by technical and analytical work of the evidence supplied by local authorities. This will be carried out by a network of policy associates. If you want to contribute in any way, please contact the Task Force.

How long will the review last?
2 years. We expect to finish in November 2008.

The recommendations of the Lifting Burdens Task Force are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or proposed policies of Communities and Local Government.

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