Local authorities in the UK are hampered from effective action by government over-regulation and lack of freedom to raise and spend money, a key report from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities has concluded.
Monitoring how the UK respects the European Charter of Local Self Government, the Congress said local authorities are too dependent on national funding and says the system needs revision. It also called for the Charter to include the Greater London Authority and local authorities in Northern Ireland.
It welcomed the introduction of directly elected mayors in some English regions, proposed measures to create more equality between regions and initiatives by the Scottish Parliament to incorporate the European Charter into Scottish law.