James Duddridge, Member of Parliament for Rochford and Southend East has today welcomed the proposals launched by David Cameron, to give more power back to local communities.
The ‘Control Shift’ policy green paper outlines plans to empower local communities to make decisions about home building and development, establish local enterprise partnerships, set and give reductions on business rates and promotes a greater use of direct democracy, including allowing residents being able to veto high council tax rises and instigate referendums on local issues.
Speaking today, James said:
“This proposal would dramatically change local people’s relationship with government by allowing them to have more say in the issues that matter to them in their area. I am particularly pleased that it sets out to abolish the top down approach to house building, which puts councils in a really difficult position. Only recently, the Government have imposed over-ambitious and unrealistic housing targets onto Rochford District Council and Great Wakering, which has been earmarked for expansion, would particularly benefit, should power and discretion be shifted back to the local community.”
17 February 2009