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UK Parliament
Lord Bichard, central government relations, constitutional reform

Council Leaders and Lord Bichard to give evidence to MPs

25 November 2010

Image of UK Parliament portcullis

Political and Constitutional Reform Committee to explore constitutional and practical issues around the possibility of codifying (or formally writing down) the principles and mechanics of the relationship between central and local government.

Witnesses

 Thursday 2 December in the Wilson Room, Portcullis House.

  • Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, Leader, Portsmouth City Council, Deputy Leader of the LGA Liberal Democrat Group and Deputy Chair of the Local Government Group Executive, Local Government Association
  • Sir Merrick Cockell, Leader, Kensington and Chelsea Council, and Chairman, Localis (Conservative)
  • Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney and Chair of London Councils (Labour)
  • Lord (Michael) Bichard, former local authority chief executive, central government permanent secretary and Executive Director, Institute for Government

Purpose of this session

The purpose of this session is to explore constitutional and practical issues around the possibility of codifying (or formally writing down) the principles and mechanics of the relationship between central and local government. Questions likely to arise include whether the responsibilities of central and local government need to be more clearly defined, the extent to which the activities and powers of local government could be protected against encroachment from the centre, and the relevance to England of how these issues are handled in other countries, and in other parts of the United Kingdom.