Local Government (England) Bill

A bill to reform the local governance of England, make provisions for the powers of councils, and for connected purposes.
Bill IDCB11-05
Author(s) Barry Smith
First reading2023 June 08
Affected legislation N/A

Stages
2023-06-08 First reading No divisions available for this stage

Versions
2023-06-08 As submitted Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows

1 The organisation of local Councils

  1. All Parish and Town Councils will be abolished, with their relevant powers folded into the next highest authority. All employees of these Parish and Town Councils, with the exception of elected positions, shall become employees of the relevant higher authority, pending reorganisation.
  2. The Greater London Council shall be re-established as of the 5th of May 2024, with all London councils previously established by the dissolution of the GLC to be abolished and placed under its authority once again. The title of Mayor and all of his powers shall henceforth be invested solely in the GLC and its internally elected Cabinet. Elections for the Greater London Council shall be held on the 5th of May 2024, with the new Council tasked with handling the transition alongside government ministries.
  3. The Mayor-Cabinet system shall no longer be permitted for local Councils.
  4. All Combined Authorities shall hold a referendum by the end of 2023 within their authority on the topic of the unification of all Councils under that authority. If the referendum passed with a 50% or greater majority, they shall be merged into a single Council with equivalent powers to the Greater London Council on the 5th
  5. All District Councils shall be abolished, with their powers folded into the appropriate Country Councils, effectively abolishing the two-tiered system. All employees of these district councils, with the exception of elected positions, shall become employees of the County Councils, pending reorganisation.
  6. All Councils shall be elected in halves every 2 years, with all Councils having all of their Council seats elected on May 5th, 2024 to establish a new baseline for this halves election system.

2 Powers of the local Councils

  1. All local Councils shall be provided with a mandatory base subsidy from Parliament, to be determined by a newly formed independent committee to investigate the minimum funds necessary for each council to run their services at an acceptable level, to be revised every 8 years.
  2. Council Tax shall remain under the control of Parliament, but local Councils will have the ability to edit the rates by +5% / -5%.
  3. Councils may establish new forms of taxation that Parliament does not tax provided that Parliament does not file an objection via majority motion within 30 days.

3 Extent, commencement and short title

  1. This Bill shall apply solely to local government within England.
  2. This Bill shall take effect immediately after its passing.
  3. This Bill may be referred to as the Local Government (England) Act 2023.