Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act
Key Benefits
A strengthened leadership role for local authorities to bring local services closer to communities, making them better co-ordinated and offering better value for money. Local Area Agreements (LAAs) and the accompanying duty to cooperate should further incentivise local agencies to work with their communities in a joined up way to improve services and the quality of life. Empowered citizens and greater engagement of local people in shaping public policies and services. A new duty will require local authorities to inform, consult and involve local people in running local services; and councillors will be empowered to resolve issues of concern to the communities they represent (if necessary by requiring consideration by Overview and Scrutiny Committees). Strengthened representative democracy and strong local leadership through greater freedom, capacity and more stable mandates to allow local leaders to take tough decisions to help deliver better places and services. Reduced bureaucracy, stronger leadership, clearer accountability and significant long-term efficiency savings as a result of restructuring in those shire areas that are keen for change and meet the Government's criteria. Rebalancing and streamlining of the performance framework, underpinned by a robust risk assessment process which will deliver a better targeted, proportionate inspection regime. A stronger voice for local communities in the commissioning and provision of health and social care services, enabling people to influence the services they use.