New measures to improve health and waste services unveiled

Date published: 23/01/2007

Local Government Secretary Ruth Kelly has published a comprehensive road map setting out how the Government is putting in place the key building blocks for local government’s new role at the heart of sustainable local communities.

The Implementation Plan for Strong and Prosperous Communities - The Local Government White Paper clearly explains how and when we are, in partnership with local government, delivering this agenda at the earliest opportunity including:

• Increasing the role of local communities in decisions
• Enhancing the leadership role of local government
• Giving local government more flexibility to meet local needs.

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill, being debated in Parliament today, is the first major step in delivering the White Paper proposals.

Key milestones in the Implementation Plan include:

• Launch of Commission on Local Councillors to review barriers and incentives to serving on councils (February 2007)
• Report of review of community management and ownership of assets presented to the Secretary of State (March 2007)
• Consultation on draft Best Value guidance, including commissioning and community involvement (Summer/Autumn 2007)

Ruth Kelly also announced new measures that extend partnership working by councils to deliver real improvements in health and well-being and waste management services. In addition she published, for consultation, a draft of a new model code of conduct for councillors. The code maintains a rigorous approach to serious misconduct, while common sense changes mean councillors will be better able to speak up for the communities they serve.

Speaking at the Second Reading debate of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill, Ruth Kelly said:

"We are giving local people a bigger say in making their communities a better place to live and empowering local authorities to provide strong leadership and deliver better public services. This agenda has received widespread support so I am pleased to publish a comprehensive Implementation Plan which sets out how Government is delivering these commitments at the earliest opportunity. The Implementation Plan outlines key milestones and will help local government and its partners to plan ahead.

"I am also pleased to confirm that we are extending our proposals for partnership working in the health and well-being field and also in relation to waste services. These will deliver real improvements in health care and contribute to increased recycling, less landfill and lower carbon emissions.

"I am clear that we need an effective conduct regime for councillors that underpins this agenda. The new model code of conduct  I am publishing for consultation today maintains a tough approach to serious misconduct but introduces common sense changes so councillors will be better able to speak up for the communities they serve."

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill provides the framework to help local government lead communities and deliver better services tailored to local needs. The new measures announced today will enhance this framework and put in place more effective partnerships in relation to health and well-being, and separately in relation to waste services.

An amendment to the Bill will allow local authorities and Primary Care Trusts to deliver truly integrated health care that is more responsive to the needs of individuals and the communities they serve.  It will require them to work together to produce a strategic assessment of the health, health care and social care needs of the local area. For example this might mean more emphasis on tackling obesity or a greater focus on home care which allows older people to be cared for in their own homes. These priorities will then form part of the overarching community strategy for the area and could be supported by funding from the Local Area Agreement or other mainstream sources. This means that through different authorities working together, the services provided more fully meet the genuine needs of the community.

A further amendment will enable local authorities to work together to deliver waste services that will improve recycling rates and result in less landfill and lower carbon emissions, as well as greater efficiency.  Any group of two or more authorities will be able to apply to Government to voluntarily transfer waste disposal, collection or street cleaning functions to a joint waste authority. This will mean there are more partnership options open to authorities to improve waste services, and to invest in new, more sustainable facilities at affordable cost. This will be particularly important in shire areas and will ensure waste collection and disposal activities are joined up. In addition there are potential savings of £150 million - that can be reinvested in other local priorities.