Government criticised for Sustainable Communities Act inaction

This damning statement from the Local Government Association (LGA) suggests that, as many suspected, the government was never really serious about the Sustainable Communities Act, which gives people the right to propose legislative changes that would help to make their communities more sustainable.

"Three months after the submission of the shortlist of 199 proposals, and 9 months after the proposals, under the Sustainable Communities Act (SCA), were first shared with the Department of
Communities and Local Government, an interim announcement from the Secretary of State deals with just 17 of the proposals, and in most of those it is merely suggesting further reviews and discussion. Although the Secretary of State is supposed to “reach agreement” with the Selector (LGA) about the fate of the shortlist, only two cursory discussions with the Chair of the LGA’s all party Selector Panel have taken place.

"The Selector Panel worked hard last year to consider the 301 proposals submitted by councils quickly, equitably and in a transparent manner. We sought to make the process straightforward
for the department by presenting the shortlist in easily digestible themes.

"Previous to that councils and residents spent many hours consulting, promoting and drawing up proposals for small and practical changes that would make a real difference locally, despite there being no clarity or timetable about the process."

"Although consideration of all the proposals submitted was always going to be difficult before the General Election, the efforts to deal with even some of the proposals have been pathetic. Neither is there a timetable for further consideration after the election nor any certainty that a further round of proposals will be forthcoming. We have to wonder whether this Government ever took the SCA
seriously."