Shropshire leader calls for devolution of powers to councils
Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow has joined with his peers across the country in calling on the Government to devolve as many powers as possible to local authorities.
Mr Barrow said that following the debate over Scottish independence, it was clear that England needs to have more powers devolved to local councils.
He said: "Considering that Scotland gets something about £1,600 per head more funding than England we need more powers.
"That is why you don't get tuition fees in Scotland.
"But I think for starters, we should have full responsibility for all the roads in Shropshire and we should get the budget to go with it. At the moment we only have control over A roads, but all Shropshire roads should be the council's responsibility.
"To devolve powers the effects would all be pretty positive.
"It would mean we could devolve powers further to local communities."
Mr Barrow spoke following the news that local government associations in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales warned that public trust in the "old ways of central control had been shattered beyond repair". They have written to William Hague, who is chairing the Cabinet committee looking at devolved powers, to call for an urgent meeting to thrash out a deal on devolution.
The letter urges him to "take a bold step towards a new system of government" that would move "power to the local level" across all four nations.
It says "too many decisions that affect local communities are centralised in Westminster, Holyrood, Cardiff Bay and Stormont".
The group, made up of the Local Government Association, the Convention Of Scottish Local Authorities, the Welsh Local Government Association and the Northern Ireland Local Government Association, want reforms that would ensure power is transferred to the level of government "closest to the people".
It also demanded greater fiscal autonomy as well as a defined set of powers and responsibilities.
Mr Barrow said: "I think you have to have a debate to decide what powers should be devolved.
"You have to have the conversation. I am sure that people around Shropshire would welcome it – I know a recent national survey showed that more than 80 per cent were in favour."