People power

 

Putting communities in control of assets and giving them a greater say over the decisions that affect their lives will help revitalise local democracy, says Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears.

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London is a city of contrasts like no other; inner city and suburb; every nationality and language you can think of; some of Britain's greatest concentrations of power and wealth; and some of the most deprived neighbourhoods anywhere in the country.

All you have to do is to walk from EC1 to E1 - from Bank to Bethnal Green - to see the range of challenges London councils face.

Despite these challenges, London councils do really well; six got the highest possible rating from the Audit Commission this year and 94 per cent were rated excellent or good. That is a dramatic turnaround from a decade ago.

It is that success, that energy, that gives London such a strong basis to look ahead to the new challenges.

Since the 2006 white paper, Strong and Prosperous Communities, the framework local government operates in has changed beyond recognition, giving you new opportunities to do local things that local people want you to do.

Today we have a new white paper - Communities in Control, Real People, Real Power - setting out how Whitehall is committed to supporting councils in putting more power in the hands of their residents.

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