Lyons Inquiry into Local Government
Lyons Inquiry:
Lyons looks to devolution to improve public services
Lyons Inquiry Press Notice: 28 February 2006
 
Sir Michael, speaking at the LGA improvement conference, today celebrated the real success we have seen councils achieve 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.
Sir Michael said:
"As long as people are unaware of what their council does, their perceptions of service delivery and value for money will remain low. People who feel well informed about their council are much more likely to be satisfied with what they do. Public engagement is therefore a key part of the role of local government in the 21st century, and an essential ingredient for effective reform.
"The growing interest in further devolution suggests we might be approaching a tipping point, where what was previously unthinkable becomes the obvious way forward. Local government will have to demonstrate that it is fit for a wider purpose. That will require greater public confidence, which in turn will call for new skills, more effective engagement with local people and downward devolution to communities and individuals. It may also require some redesign of local government, including our expectations of the elected representative.
"Neither central nor local government can afford to be complacent: the real improvements made by councils in recent years have not been fully appreciated by the public, and we need to be clear of the business case for reform. I am looking for the prizes in terms of local prosperity and growth, better management of cost and service pressures and the benefits of local communities being able to exercise greater choice over their future."
Sir Michael's presentation can be found on the Inquiry's web site (106 kb).
Notes for Editors
  1. Sir Michael was speaking at the LGA's Driving Improvement conference in Gateshead.
  2. Sir Michael Lyons was originally 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. 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, inviting responses to the questions posed by 13 March 2006. At the same time submissions received from organisations (where the Inquiry has the permission of the author to publish) and the research commissioned by the Inquiry were also published. Further thematic papers will be published in Spring, and the Inquiry will conclude with a final report to Ministers in late 2006. Copies of the report, submissions, research commissioned, and the terms of reference for the Inquiry, can be found on the Lyons Inquiry website at www.lyonsinquiry.org.uk.
  4. 4. Any press enquiries should be directed to GNN on 0207 217 3779.