Evidence to the Inquiry into Brexit response and consultation. Parliament's European Scrutiny Committee

Abstract

I welcome the request to submit written evidence to the European Scrutiny Committee response and consultation regarding Brexit. My response is specifically concerned with the policy area of local government. This reply draws on my recent published academic work on governing and budgeting in public services and senior level personal experience in both central and local government. Local authorities had significant challenges prior to Brexit but undoubtedly now following the referendum there is a need for increased scrutiny, if not a fundamental review, of local government. This is because local government will face a big policy, financial and service impact, along with significant political implications, from Brexit. Scrutiny may be partly undertaken by the European Scrutiny Committee, but mostly shared with other committees that will have a more specific interest in such issues. It is therefore important that the linkages between committees for the flow of information are in place. In my opinion a fundamental review of local government will be necessary, and this could be along the lines of something approaching the Layfield Committee in the 1970s with local government having a seat at the decision making table to voice concerns around power, capacity and local freedoms (Ferry, 2016a).