The purpose of the Bill is to:

This draft Bill will enhance local democracy and empower communities by allowing Government to meet key commitments made in the 2008 White Paper 'Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power'. 

The main elements of the Bill are:

This draft Bill is planned to include measures to enhance local democracy and empower communities, amend politically restricted posts, enable remote voting for councillors, introduce voting incentives, modernise provisions around parish councils, remove the barriers to directly electing mayors and recognise the contributions of alderwomen and local people through reform of honorary and hereditary freedoms.

The main benefits of the Bill are:

This draft Bill will allow pre-legislative scrutiny on key commitments made in the 2008 White Paper 'Communities in Control: Real People, Real Power'. The measures will enhance local democracy, increase devolution and empower communities.