Localism Act 2011

Localism Act 2011 is a significant piece of legislation that aims to devolve power from central government to local authorities, such as Birmingham, Leeds, and Sheffield, and to communities in England, particularly in areas like Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, and Nottingham. The Act was introduced by Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, and received Royal Assent on 15 November 2011, following debates in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, involving Members of Parliament like David Cameron, Nick Clegg, and Harriet Harman. The legislation has far-reaching implications for local government, planning, and community development in areas like Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset, and has been influenced by the policies of Conservative and Liberal Democrat politicians, including George Osborne, Vince Cable, and Chris Huhne.

Introduction

The Localism Act 2011 was a key component of the Coalition government's Big Society agenda, which aimed to promote community engagement and volunteering in areas like Bristol, Liverpool, and Newcastle upon Tyne, and to reduce the role of central government in local affairs, as advocated by thinkers like Philip Blond and David Willetts. The Act built on the principles of subsidiarity, which holds that decisions should be taken at the most local level possible, as seen in the European Union's approach to regional policy, and was influenced by the ideas of Aristotle, John Locke, and Edmund Burke. The legislation was also influenced by the Local Government Act 2000 and the Sustainable Communities Act 2007, which were introduced by the Labour government of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. The Localism Act 2011 has been compared to other devolutionary measures, such as the Scotland Act 1998 and the Wales Act 1998, which established the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales, and has been discussed in the context of European Union law and the Treaty of Lisbon.

Provisions

The Localism Act 2011 contains a wide range of provisions that affect local authorities, such as Birmingham and Leeds, and communities in England, particularly in areas like Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, and Nottingham. The Act introduces new powers for local authorities to tackle anti-social behaviour, as seen in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, and to promote sustainable development, as advocated by organizations like the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Campaign to Protect Rural England. The legislation also reforms the planning system, as discussed in the National Planning Policy Framework, and introduces new measures to promote community development, as seen in the localism policies of the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats. The Act has been influenced by the ideas of Jane Jacobs, Richard Rogers, and Prince Charles, and has been compared to other urban planning initiatives, such as the urban regeneration policies of the European Union and the United Nations.

Community Rights

The Localism Act 2011 introduces a range of new community rights, including the right to challenge local authority decisions, as seen in the Local Government Act 2000, and the right to bid for assets of community value, as advocated by organizations like the Community Development Foundation and the Plunkett Foundation. The Act also introduces a new community right to build, which allows communities to develop housing and other infrastructure projects, as seen in the Towns and Villages Greenspace initiative. The legislation has been influenced by the ideas of Ebenezer Howard, Patrick Geddes, and Lewis Mumford, and has been compared to other community development initiatives, such as the Community Land Trust movement in the United States and the cooperative movement in Europe.

Planning Reform

The Localism Act 2011 reforms the planning system in England, particularly in areas like London, Bristol, and Manchester, by introducing a new National Planning Policy Framework, which sets out the government's planning policy, as discussed in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The Act also introduces new measures to promote sustainable development, as advocated by organizations like the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Town and Country Planning Association, and to reduce bureaucracy in the planning system, as seen in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. The legislation has been influenced by the ideas of Andrés Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and James Howard Kunstler, and has been compared to other urban planning initiatives, such as the New Urbanism movement in the United States and the Garden city movement in Europe.

Governance and Accountability

The Localism Act 2011 introduces new measures to promote governance and accountability in local government, particularly in areas like Birmingham, Leeds, and Sheffield, by reforming the Audit Commission and introducing new transparency measures, as seen in the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Act also introduces new powers for local authorities to tackle corruption and fraud, as discussed in the Bribery Act 2010, and to promote ethical standards in local government, as advocated by organizations like the Committee on Standards in Public Life and the Local Government Association. The legislation has been influenced by the ideas of Aristotle, John Locke, and Edmund Burke, and has been compared to other governance initiatives, such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption. Category:United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 2011