Communities and Local Government

• Corporate
• Newsroom
• Speeches, statements and articles
• Sixth Annual Assembly of Standards Committees - Down to Detail: Making Local Regulation Work

Local government

Sixth Annual Assembly of Standards Committees - Down to Detail: Making Local Regulation Work

Date of speech	15 October 2007
Location	ICC Birmingham
Event summary	Down to Detail: Making Local Regulation Work

---

Draft text of the speech - may differ from the delivered version.

I was very pleased to see that the theme of your Assembly this year is "making local regulation work". That sums up the challenge for next year in a nutshell. In fact, it is so important I should probably leave now and let you, as you put it, get "down to detail"!

However, that is not in the nature of a politician when given a platform. Anyway I thought it might be useful if I did a little scene setting first.

You don't need me to tell you that there are huge changes going on in local government. There is an unstoppable tide of devolution - devolving powers and responsibilities to local government, to local partners and to local communities.

We all agree this is the right direction and a shift that is needed. Although that doesn't mean to say it is going to be easy, nor without its challenges at every level.

However it does mean that now is also the time for a more devolved, locally responsive conduct regime. We cannot hope to renew local democracy without renewing confidence and trust in both the system and the people who serve our communities.

It is the bedrock of successful devolution. Responsibility for achieving this must rest at local level too. That is the only way that makes sense in a more devolved local world.

The key is each council's standards committee - of which the great majority of you are members. You have a big job to do and you are a vital part of the whole.

We, in central government, are providing the statutory framework but you have to make it work. Although I know a great deal is happening already, everything must be working well by April next year. And that is not far away.

The twin principles of trust and transparency need to be well embedded. Local citizens across the country should understand the system and be confident that it is working for them.

While there to promote the very highest ethical standards in public life, it is also an essential safety net if things go wrong. We all hope this part of the job is not needed very often, but we all know it needs to be there and to be robust.

I believe the current proposals will achieve these ambitions.

It is worth recapping briefly how we got here.

The first point to make is that this is something we have developed together. Two years ago we had the report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life. It provided some useful pointers. These and other issues you raised with us formed the discussion paper at the end of 2005.

We consulted widely. It is fair to say that the great majority of people welcomed a more devolved regime. Last year the Local Government White Paper set out our commitment to this and the next steps.

The measures needing statutory backing were included in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill. This is going through its final Parliamentary stages now and there has been some lively debate around the 20 or so clauses concerned with conduct. Hopefully this should be concluded in the next few weeks.

In the meantime we have, together, produced the revised code of conduct for members. It is simpler, clearer and more proportionate. Everyone has been using it since 3 May. Based on your experience so far, we will fine tune the Code early next year so it is absolutely fit for purpose.

I know you have many other plans and changes in progress. For example, already more decisions are being taken at local level. In fact around half of all cases are now being dealt with locally.

I am sure you are looking at committee membership and thinking about an independent chair. This is the opportunity to involve people your own local communities particularly trust and respect.

The Board too is preparing for its new role as a light touch regulator. Making sure the groundwork is in place in every council for a consistent and effective approach across the country. So every citizen in every area can rely on their local standards board to maintain the high standards they expect and, indeed, will see elsewhere.

Before I go on, it is worth just summarising the main principles of the new regime. I see them like this.

First, every local standards committee will promote, educate and support members in following the highest standards of conduct. Further it will ensure that those standards are fully 'owned' locally - everyone there signs up.

Second, the local standards committee will be responsible for any allegations of misconduct. Only very exceptional and rare cases will go to the national body. The norm will definitely be the local route.

And third, the Standards Board will be a much lighter touch national regulator. Its main job will be to make sure there is a consistent approach across the country. It will also deal with those rare cases which the local committee cannot handle with confidence. They might be the most serious ones, or there might be some special reason why they have to be passed on. But we do not expect there to be many.

Lack of consistency and local failure are probably the biggest risks in the future. I know the Board and everyone here are working very hard now to make sure they never materialise.

When all the groundwork is in place, the Board can step back.

At this point let me thank Sir Anthony and all the Board for their hard work, expertise and energy in making things happen. We are not quite there yet, but the reason we are making such tangible and timely progress is a tribute to the way you are carrying out your role.

I know some of you also have concerns about resources. We recognise that you need support and training to put in place the new arrangements. And that what you are taking on is challenging. Committees and monitoring officers need to build capacity and capability.

The focus should not only be on your own area. You need to look at joint working with neighbours so you can share experience and knowledge as well as resources.

I am confident you are up to all these challenges. We are creating the framework for change, but you are making localism a reality. Above all, it is you who will make this work - your commitment, your dedication and your enthusiasm.

It is you who will uphold the highest standards of ethics and probity because you know nothing less will do.

It is you who will give local people confidence and belief in those standards because you know they will be reluctant to take more part in the democratic life of their community without it.

It is you who will help build trust and respect in local governance, because you know the success of devolution depends on it.

You have a vital contribution to make. I want you to know how much we value your role and recognise its importance.

So I hope you have a very constructive and forward-looking Assembly this year. That you do get down to detail and make local regulation work. I look forward to hearing about it.

And at the end I hope you go back to your own area, refreshed with new ideas and exciting plans, and inspired to make an even bigger difference to the lives of people in your communities. And that positive difference is what we all want to see. Thank you.