(article from labour.org.uk)

Labour’s Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has unveiled a re-engineering of the relationship between the state and local councils.

Hazel Blears announced that the number of Whitehall performance indicators coming into force next April have been slashed from 1200 to 198, giving councils major new freedoms to direct their focus and resources at issues local people care about.

Local authorities will now have more freedom to tackle anti-social behaviour, crack down on gun culture and confront climate change.

Hazel Blears said: “We have delivered local government unprecedented freedoms, financial flexibility and revenue raising powers. You must now step up to the mark, embrace this new responsibility and demonstrate a strengthened approach to governing.

"This represents a major re-engineering of the relationship between the state and local councils bringing Government much closer to our communities.

"We are delivering on our devolution promises - slashing Whitehall control, increasing financial flexibility and turning devolution to the town hall into a reality.

“Councils and communities will have more power to take action on the issues local people care about whether it's tackling guns and gangs, providing more affordable housing or improving the local neighbourhood.

"We are giving local government the space it needs to thrive - they must now make the most of this once in a generation opportunity and deliver on local peoples priorities and take the tough decisions to make a positive difference."

Labour’s Communities Secretary also set out other new freedoms for local Government, including up to £5 billion in funding to be transferred out of ring-fenced budgets and shifted to provide resources for local priorities.