Southwark Liberal Democrats condemn smash and grab raid on council powers

12.00.00pm GMT Wed 29th Nov 2006

The Leader of Southwark Council's Liberal Democrats has condemned the GLA Bill published yesterday by the Government as 'a smash and grab raid on the powers of local councils'. He warns that the Bill could result in more developments such as that proposed for Potters Field.

Cllr Nick Stanton was speaking after the Government announced that it will legislate to shift planning and waste management powers away from local representatives and into the hands of Ken Livingstone.

"The best people to decide about local issues are local councillors who are in touch with the communities that will be affected," said Cllr Nick Stanton. "Whether it is deciding on contentious planning applications or raising recycling rates, local councillors are able to listen to local concerns and reflect them in the council chamber."

"Ken Livingstone is hardly in a position to know the views of people in every one of the 649 wards in London. And taking decisions behind closed doors as he does is not the best way to engage the public in debate."

"This Bill is a smash and grab raid on the powers of local councils. Any pretence that powers are also being transferred down from Whitehall is mere window dressing."

"If Ken Livingstone got his way then we would be more likely to see ugly and unwanted high rise blocks, such as those proposed for Potters Field, spread across Southwark. With the Mayor of London in charge of waste management, local Liberal Democrat councillors would no longer be able to guarantee that there would be no incinerator built on the Old Kent Road."

"Southwark Liberal Democrats, together with our Conservative colleagues, will be putting a motion to Council Assembly on 6th December opposing the plans to increase the powers of Ken Livingstone. We will also be working with our colleagues in the House of Commons and House of Lords to try to defeat this Bill."