Local government

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on local government. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

Date	Description
03.02.2012	Local Government Finance Settlement 2012/13
	Local Government Finance Settlement figures for 2012/13 were confirmed on 31 January 2012. This note provides analysis and allocations for individual authorities.
02.02.2012	Police funding: Social Indicators page
	Police funding: Social Indicators page. By Gavin Berman and Ross Young. SN/SG/2616.
01.02.2012	Business rates: discretionary reliefs
	The Localism Act 2011 introduced a new power for local authorities to be able to grant discounts on business rates as they think fit provided that they are funded locally. Previously, councils could grant discretionary relief only in specified circumstances, for example in individual cases of hardship or in topping up mandatory relief for charitable organisations. This note provides further information on these matters.
30.01.2012	Small Business Rate Relief
	This standard note provides information on small business rate relief (SBRR) in England including recent moves towards an automatic scheme. It also summarises the position on SBRR in Scotland and Wales.
24.01.2012	The Greater London Authority
	This note summarises the role and powers of the Mayor of London, including the changes introduced by the Greater London Authority Act 2007. It also describes the role and powers of the London Assembly. Additional information provided covers mayoral election results and a brief chronology of London government.

Research Papers

Date	Description
05.01.2012	Local Government Finance Bill 2010-12
	This Research Paper has been prepared for the second reading of the Local Government Finance Bill 2010-12
24.05.2011	Local Elections: 2011
12.04.2011	Localism Bill: Committee Stage Report
	This paper covers the Commons Committee Stage of the Bill, and complements Research Paper 11/02, prepared for Second Reading. The Bill covers a wide range of topics in local government, planning, housing and the governance of London. It was not substantially amended in Committee, although there were some minor technical Government amendments. However, at several points, Ministers agreed to look again at certain issues and consider whether to introduce amendments at Report Stage.
08.02.2011	The Local Government Finance Settlement 2011-13
	Central government will provide approximately �73bn in grants to local authorities in England in 2011/12. This funding is made up of the formula grant, comprised of revenue support grant, redistributed business rate income and Home Office Police Grant where appropriate, and specific grants.
11.01.2011	Localism Bill: Local government and community empowerment [Bill No 126 of 2010-11]
	The Localism Bill 2010-11 was introduced in the House of Commons on 13 December 2010. This Paper summarises the local government and community empowerment sections of the Bill. Aspects of the Bill relating to planning, housing and London are summarised in Research Paper 11/03. The Bill is due to receive its second reading in the House of Commons on 17 January 2011.

Select Committee Reports

Date	Description
17.10.2011	Audit and inspection of local authorities.
	Government response. Communities and Local Government report [Commons]
17.09.2011	Localism.
	Communities and Local Government report [Commons]
27.06.2011	Audit and inspection of local authorities.
	Communities and Local Government Select Committee report [Commons]
23.06.2011	The abolition of regional spatial strategies: a planning vacuum.
	Government response. Communities and Local Government report [Commons]
28.02.2011	The abolition of regional spatial strategies.
	Communities and Local Government Select Committee report [Commons]

Lords Library Notes

Date	Description
27.05.2011	Localism Bill (HL Bill 71 of 2010-12). LLN 2011/019
	Localism Bill (HL Bill 71 of 2010-12). House of Lords Library Note 2011/019

Early Day Motions

Date	Description
12.12.2011	TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRESENTATION OF A PETITION FOR A CORNISH ASSEMBLY
	That this House notes that 10 years have passed since the presentation of a petition with 50,000 signatures in favour of a Cornish Assembly to 10 Downing Street on 12 December 2001 ...
14.11.2011	ACTIONS OF BASILDON COUNCIL IN RESPECT OF RICHARD HOWITT MEP
	That this House notes with concern the forcible removal of East of England MEP, Richard Howitt, from the official media area of Dale Farm by officials of Basildon Council during the ...
07.11.2011	CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION (No. 2)
	That this House calls on the Government to launch an inquiry into the activities of the City of London Corporation reported in The Guardian on 7 November 2011 related to the investment ...
02.11.2011	CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION
	That this House considers that it is unacceptable in a democratic country in thetwenty-firstcentury for the business vote to continue to exist in elections for the City of London Corporation, ...
11.10.2011	PUBLIC SECTOR PENSIONS (No.3)
	That this House notes that proposals by Government Ministers run the serious risk of making public sector pension schemes unsustainable; further notes that increasing contributions ...