Lack of clarity sparks illegal
spending fear
- Published: 27 November 2007 21:33
- Last Updated: 27 November 2007 21:34
"Muddled thinking"
could result in unelected partnerships taking unlawful decisions over billions
of pounds of council cash, a leading local government lawyer has warned.
He claims the Department for
Communities & Local Government document Creating strong, safe and
prosperous communities does not provide a legally watertight mechanism for LSP
spending decisions.
The government wants councils,
public bodies and businesses to come together with funds funnelled through LSPs
increasing tenfold to £5bn per annum.
Mr Ahmad, also Birmingham City
Council's chief legal officer, said: "LSPs cannot, as a matter of law,
take executive decisions and the government must do more to stop muddled
thinking among local government practitioners and civil servants.
"There is a danger that LSPs
may make decisions which are the lawful domain of local authorities. From a
citizens' point of view, this is concerning because local authorities are the
elected representatives."
Mr Ahmad added that he will
suggest to Hazel Blears, communities and local government secretary, that one
solution would be for councils to transfer powers on spending decisions to a
cabinet member who also sits on the LSP board.
