Big ups for this one. There's little namby pamby about the local government reform package announced today.
Clients have had to blow tens of thousands in defending their communities, customers, and businesses from Council threats and depredations. They've endured cynical consultations, court cases and mind-numbing attempts to help Councillors understand the swamps of waste and patronage they've been generating.
Now to see if the government holds its nerve in the fine print.
As a constitutional lawyer, I will be specially interested in whether the admirable reinstatement of a meaningful purpose:
The Local Government Act 2002 will be amended to replace references to the ‘social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of communities’ (the four well beings) with a new purpose for councils of ‘providing good quality local infrastructure, public services and regulatory functions at the least possible cost to households and business.’
results in the efficiency of the old 'ultra vires' action to restrain abuses of local government authority.