Lyons Inquiry into Local Government
Final report
Publications
Sitemap
News and events
Public debate
Links
News and events
Recent events
This section of the website includes details of recent news and events, including press notices and other media communications and presentations.
Press Notices
27 March 2007 - Lyons Inquiry - National Conference
21 March 2007 - Lyons Inquiry final report and recommendations
19 March 2007 - Sir Michael Lyons's final report - launch and forthcoming conference
11 December 2006 - Lyons seeks views on maximising local government's contribution to future economic prosperity
6 December 2006 - Lyons Inquiry to advise Government on the implications of Barker, Leitch and Eddington for local government
20 November 2006 - Lyons publishes findings from public deliberation events
14 November 2006 - Lyons publishes summary of stakeholder events
8 September 2006 - Lyons to challenge local government and businesses to work together effectively in promoting economic prosperity
17 August 2006 - Lyons to meet businesses to discuss local economic prosperity
21 July 2006 - Lyons Inquiry engages public
5 July 2006 - "Local government's active support is needed now" says Lyons
22 June 2006 - Voluntary and community organisations have a key role to play in place shaping (Adobe Acrobat file: 100kb)
21 June 2006 - Lyons calls for councils to promote the role of housing in effective place shaping
14 June 2006 - Council finance chiefs should be "finance directors for council and community" says Lyons
8 May 2006 - Sir Michael Lyons publishes his latest thinking on the future role and function of local government
Index of press notices concerning the Lyons Inquiry
Speeches and presentations
Index of recent speeches and presentations by Sir Michael
News Archive
Index of news items featured on this site
Printer friendly
Place-shaping: a shared ambition for the future of local government
News Archive
Recent events
21 March 2007
Lyons Inquiry final report and recommendations
Sir Michael Lyons today published the much anticipated final report from his independent Inquiry into the future role, function and funding of local government - Place-shaping: a shared ambition for the future of local government. Sir Michael argues that local government is an essential part of our system of government today. Its place-shaping role - using powers and influence creatively to promote the well-being of a community and its citizens - is crucial to help improve satisfaction and prosperity though greater local choice and flexibility.
19 March 2007
Sir Michael Lyons's final report - launch and forthcoming conference
Sir Michael Lyons will publish his much anticipated final report from his independent Inquiry into the future role, function and funding of local government - "Place-shaping: a shared ambition for the future of local government" - at a breakfast briefing on Wednesday 21 March. Sir Michael will unveil his final recommendations and findings, highlighting the vital role that local government can play in creating a system of effective governance for the 21st century, that can manage increasing pressures on public expenditure, improve satisfaction and build more prosperous communities.
11 December 2006
Lyons seeks views on maximising local government's contribution to future economic prosperity
Sir Michael published his discussion document seeking views on the implications for local government of the Eddington report on transport, the Barker report on planning and the Leitch review on skills. The document provides the opportunity for those across the public, private and voluntary sectors, and members of the public, to inform Sir Michael's latest thinking as he considers how the conclusions from these three high profile reviews can enable local government to make the most effective and powerful contribution to future economic prosperity. Responses to this document should be submitted by 19 January 2007. They will inform a series of expert round-table discussions to be hosted by Sir Michael in the New Year ahead of him finalising his recommendations for publication in his final report around the time of the budget.
6 December 2006
Lyons Inquiry to advise Government on the implications of Barker, Leitch and Eddington for local government
The Chancellor announced in his Pre Budget Report that he and Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, have asked Sir Michael Lyons to consider the implications for local government of the Eddington report on transport, the Barker report on planning and the Leitch review on skills in the final report from his Inquiry into the role, function and funding of local government, and to make appropriate recommendations to government. This will mean a short extension to Sir Michael's Inquiry. Sir Michael said:
"I welcome this new opportunity to reflect on the recommendations contained within the Eddington, Leitch and Barker Reviews. Taken together these three reviews represent a significant cluster of thinking and recommendations on improving economic performance at a sub-national level. Economic prosperity is a central theme to my Inquiry and this extension puts me in a unique position to ensure that my final recommendations reflect the latest thinking in this field, as well as ensuring that the recommendations from these reviews enable local government to make the most powerful and effective contribution to future economic prosperity and infrastructure. I was on course to complete my Inquiry in December, but look forward to publishing my report around the time of the budget, which provides real potential to influence the Comprehensive Spending Review."
20 November 2006
Lyons publishes findings from public deliberation events
Today, at a seminar on effective public engagement co-hosted with the IDEA and LGA, Sir Michael Lyons is to explore the essential role for local authorities in engaging effectively with their citizens. At the event, Sir Michael will also publish the results of work carried out by the Office for Public Management on behalf of the Inquiry which explores in-depth the views of a selection of the public on the role of local government.
14 November 2006
Lyons publishes summary of stakeholder events
Sir Michael Lyons has today published three papers from some of his recent stakeholder engagement work. The first two set out the key issues discussed at the recent councillor and business engagement events held over the summer, the third provides a brief account of the Lyons Inquiry Economic Prosperity Conference held on 14 September 2006.
9 November 2006
Scottish Local Government Finance Review - a statement from Sir Michael Lyons
"I read with interest the report of Sir Peter Burt's Local Government Finance Review Committee, 'A Fairer Way'. It raises some challenging questions about how local government can be paid for, and proposes a radical set of reforms for Scotland. While I do not agree with all of their conclusions, I think that they are right to question the traditional arguments about the balance of funding, and to highlight the need for the finance system to be based on a clear understanding of the role of local government. I am sure that the arguments and the evidence the Committee has brought to bear will contribute to debate in England as well as in Scotland."
26th October 2006
Local Government White Paper - a statement from Sir Michael Lyons
"I welcome the publication of the White Paper.
"The Government has recognised the need for a radical change in the balance of power between central and local government. Whilst this represents a great opportunity, it also requires local government to raise its game. Greater freedom for local choice and for greater variation between one community and another will leave the space for local government and its partners to address these issues with greater energy. I believe that the real achievements we have seen over the last few years show that local government are both ready and willing to take on, and rise to this challenge.
"As I highlighted in my report 'National Prosperity, Local Choice and Civic Engagement', published earlier this year, local government has a unique responsibility for place-shaping, improving the economic, social and environmental well-being of the area it represents.
"I am very pleased that the White Paper has taken forward the arguments I made in that report. It is a welcome step forward. I will reflect on the reforms it puts in place, as well as the important questions that remain, including how local government should best be funded, in my final report to Ministers in December 2006."
14 September 2006
Economic Prosperity: the Local Contribution
This major national conference from the Lyons Inquiry took place on 14 September in central London, The conference looked at the emerging role for local authorities and other agencies in promoting economic growth. It addressed why the 'local' matters in the context of globalisation and international competition.
August 2006
Business round-table events in August
Sir Michael Lyons has met local business people in a series of meetings across England. The meetings formed part of a wide programme of consultation and stakeholder engagement undertaken as part of Sir Michael's independent Inquiry into Local Government. The meetings debated issues such as the current local authority arrangements for promoting economic prosperity in their area, and scope for extending this role; and what changes are needed to ensure that the extended role of local authorities in the promotion of local economic prosperity is most effective.
July 2006
Public engagement meetings in July and August
The Lyons Inquiry held a series of public engagement events in collaboration with local authorities in each region. These events provided Sir Michael with an opportunity to receive views from a variety of local people to form part of his Independent Inquiry into Local Government.
These public engagement events were intended to allow people to consider - in depth - issues about local government, and were designed to take into account different views and perspectives. The events were therefore small, focussed sessions with the participants chosen to be representative of the population of each local area. In selecting the groups the Inquiry Team worked closely with researchers and partner local authorities, including through local arrangements for engaging the panel such as Citizens Panels.
July 2006
Councillor engagement round-table events
Sir Michael Lyons invited councillors to a series of round-table events in July. Local councillors are central to the Inquiry's thinking on the future of local government, and are key to local government's unique ability to place shape. Sir Michael took this opportunity to hear elected members' views on how local government should develop, their role in this and - in particular - how they think local government should be funded in the future.
5 July 2006
"Local government's active support is needed now" says Lyons
Sir Michael Lyons today challenged local government representatives to play an active role in building support for change in their communities. In his speech to the Local Government Association Annual Conference, Sir Michael argued that as he moves towards his final conclusions, he needs local councils to engage with their communities, partners and local businesses about some of the difficult choices that lie ahead.
22 June 2006
Voluntary and community organisations have a key role to play in place shaping
Sir Michael Lyons, Acting Chairman of the Audit Commission and Head of the Lyons Inquiry into Local Government, has called for a closer relationship between local government and the third sector with the objective of building prosperous, diverse local communities and improving local quality of life. Speaking at the Three Sector Summit in London, he said: "Local government and the voluntary sector share a common root stock a commitment to improving the social fabric; protecting the weak and engaging people in the life and governance of their own communities. This needs to be strengthened and renewed if we are to rise to the challenges of greater devolution and local choice".
21 June 2006
Lyons calls for councils to promote the role of housing in effective place shaping
Sir Michael Lyons has called on all stakeholders in the housing sector to engage in the debate on the future of local government. Speaking at the Chartered Institute of Housing's annual conference in Harrogate, Sir Michael suggested that while local authorities are best placed to lead in the economic and social development of their communities, they would only be able to do this if they could demonstrate they were capable of a more inclusive style of engagement with key housing and planning bodies.
14 June 2006
Council finance chiefs should be "finance directors for council and community" says Lyons
Sir Michael Lyons has challenged council finance officers to play a more active role in supporting local leadership, building capacity for local coordination of services and preparing the way for more difficult choices to be made at the local level. In his speech to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Annual Conference, Sir Michael asked treasurers whether they want to be seen not just as keepers of the town hall's accounts, but more broadly as "finance directors for council and community", taking a strategic view of investment in an area and engaging with citizens and taxpayers.
8 May 2006
Sir Michael Lyons publishes his latest thinking on the future role and function of local government
Sir Michael Lyons published his latest thinking on the future role and function of local government. He argues for a system of local government for the 21st century that can manage increasing pressures on public expenditure, increase satisfaction and build more prosperous communities. Greater local choice, not more central control, is needed to achieve this. Sir Michael also argues that local government should be given greater freedom to "place-shape" taking responsibility for the well-being of an area and the people who live there, promoting their interests and their future.
4 April 2006
Seminar - debating key issues from the Lyons Inquiry
Rockpools held their first Annual Local Government Seminar - debating key issues from the Lyons Inquiry: the future of form and function - where Sir Michael shared some of his latest thinking, and debated some of the key issues, with a select local government audience. Nick Raynsford chaired the one day event, which also included presentations from Ben Page (MORI), Susan Law (Doncaster) and Johnathan Brearly (ODPM).
28 February 2006
Lyons looks to devolution to improve public service
Sir Michael, speaking at the LGA improvement conference in Gateshead on 28 February, celebrated the real success that councils have achieved over recent years in improving services to local people in every region. However, he also highlighted the big challenges that remain, particularly given the growing interest in further devolution. Councils face increasing demands on services and ever-higher expectations from the public. There is room for further improvement in value for money, but most of all there is a need to improve public confidence.
31 January 2006
Sir Michael Lyons challenges local government to "take debate to the public"
Sir Michael Lyons has developed his argument for a wider debate on local government and local government finance. Speaking on 31 January 2006 at the Euromoney Local and Regional Government Financing Conference in Manchester, Sir Michael argued that the Government may be approaching a "tipping point" in an emerging consensus about the need for devolution. However, he also emphasised that evidence is needed about public support for a wider role for local government in order to enable this change to happen, and challenged local government to take this debate to the public.
20 January 2006
Local authority partnering
Sir Michael Lyons has written to all principal local authority (counties, districts, unitaries, metropolitans and London boroughs) Chief Executives on 20 January 2006, inviting them to help him take forward the debate on local government function and funding. A copy of the letter is available for viewing on this website:
15 December 2005
Sir Michael Lyons calls for a public debate on local government
On 15 December 2005 Sir Michael Lyons' independent Inquiry into the role, function and funding of local government has published a consultation paper and interim report setting out his approach to his extended remit and preliminary thinking on his work to date. Also published are submissions received from organisations and the research issued by the Inquiry so far.
20 September 2005
Ministers announce extended remit for Lyons Inquiry
On 20 September 2005 the Government announced an extension to the Inquiry's terms of reference to cover questions relating to the function of local government and its future role as well as how it is funded.
Sir Michael has issued a press notice welcoming the extension to his remit, which has the potential to establish a new direction for how local government delivers and funds key public services. He also encourages central and local government, local communities and businesses to engage in the debate to improve public understanding of the issues. Sir Michael will now produce his final report in late 2006 to inform the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.
Sir Michael has written to all stakeholders to thank them for their input to his Inquiry so far; to explain his strong belief that reform of the funding system needs to be preceded by greater clarity about what local government does and who is responsible for local services, and to explain that his work on the complex issues of local government finance issues will be finalised in light of his extended work on the function of local government.
4 October 2004
Lyons Inquiry open for business
4 October 2004: the independent inquiry into local government funding in England, led by Sir Michael Lyons, is inviting contributions to its work.
Sir Michael said:
"I would encourage anyone with an interest in this important issue to contribute to the debate. A lot of valuable work has already been done, not least in the Balance of Funding Review. I want to take this work forward and I am determined that this inquiry will provide real answers to some long-term problems which affect all of us. The first step will be to listen to the experts and those affected by the issues."
"As part of this process, we will not only be seeking written evidence, but also holding a series of meetings around the country to develop a broader understanding of the issues as they affect different regions and local communities. After this phase of evidence gathering, which I would expect to take several months, we will use that evidence to inform our detailed analysis of options which will address the issues I have been asked to tackle."
20 July 2004
Lyons Inquiry into local government finance announced
On 20 July 2004 the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer commissioned Sir Michael Lyons to undertake an independent inquiry to consider the case for changes to the present system of local government funding in England and make recommendations, including on the reform of council tax.
Contact details
The Lyons Inquiry has now closed. Please direct your queries to Communities and Local Government or HM Treasury.
Communities and Local Government general enquiries helpline: 020 7944 4400
HM Treasury Correspondence and Enquiry Unit: 020 7270 4558
Further contact details are available on their respective websites
Quick links
Lyons Inquiry archive
The Lyons Inquiry website has been selected for preservation by the The National Archives. Versions of this website, including publications, published documents and selected submissions, can be accessed from The UK Web Archiving Consortium website.
Adobe Acrobat files
A number of the documents on this website are in Adobe Acrobat format, which some web browsers have difficulty displaying. Adobe Acrobat Reader software can be downloaded for free from the Adobe website if this applies to you