Lyons Inquiry into Local Government
News and 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
Lyons Inquiry:
Lyons Inquiry to advise Government on the implications of Barker, Leitch and Eddington for local government
Lyons Inquiry Press Notice: 6 December 2006
 
The Chancellor today announced 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."
Sir Michael will also use this opportunity to provide further thoughts on the recent local government white paper and to further refine and polish his recommendations in his final report, which he will publish around the time of the Budget 2007.
Sir Michael intends to publish a short discussion document on 11 December 2006 seeking views on the key areas in which the recommendations of the above reviews have implications for local government. Responses to this discussion document will feed into a series of expert round-table discussions to be held in the New Year. Full details of this additional work will be available shortly on the Lyons Inquiry website.
Tony Travers, Director, Greater London Group, London School of Economics said:
"It is common sense to ask the Lyons Inquiry to take the account of the output of the Eddington, Barker and Leitch reports. Eddington and Barker, in particular, have said interesting things about local government structures, powers and funding. There are clear links between each of these reports and the others - and, indeed, with the recent Local Government White Paper."
Chris Leslie, Director, New Local Government Network said:
"The extension of Sir Michael Lyons's Inquiry until Spring 2007 in order to pull together the recommendations in the Barker, Eddington and Leitch reports and the local Government White Paper is a welcome opportunity to ensure consistent and comprehensive reform to ensure consistent and comprehensive reform, to enhance the leadership role of local authorities across all these areas of public service. We hope that Lyons will use this extra consultation phase in January to explore how greater devolution of resources to towns and cities is the key to spreading and incentivising economic prosperity."
Notes for Editors
  1. Sir Michael Lyons was commissioned in July 2004 by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Chancellor to make recommendations on how to reform the local government funding system by December 2005.
  2. On 20 September 2005 the remit of the Inquiry was extended to enable Sir Michael to consider issues of function before finalising his conclusions on funding.
  3. On 15 December 2005 Sir Michael issued a consultation paper and interim report. A further paper was published on 8th May 2006 entitled "National Prosperity, local choice and civic engagement".
  4. Copies of reports, submissions, research commissioned, and the terms of reference for the Inquiry, can be found on the Lyons Inquiry website.
External links
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

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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.

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