North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson has asked Ministers to ensure that local authorities share best practice in order to guarantee taxpayers' money is spent wisely.
Justin's comments came during a Statement from the Communities & Local Government Secretary, Sajid Javid, who was setting out the Local Government Finance Settlement (the amount each local authority across the country will receive to spend on services).
During the Statement, the Secretary of State also confirmed additional flexibility for local councils to deliver services and use funds raised by the Council to deliver new housing.
Text of Justin’s question, and the Minister’s reply.
Justin Tomlinson: With local authorities being given greater resources, powers and flexibility, what are the Government doing to share best practice to make sure that taxpayers’ money is spent wisely?
Sajid Javid (Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government): We do a number of things to try to encourage efficiency. The four-year settlement essentially requires of each of the 97% of authorities that accepted it an efficiency deal with the Government, through which we want to be convinced that those authorities are doing all they can to spend taxpayers’ money more wisely. We also work with the Local Government Association to share practice, which I know much of the sector welcomes.
