The Localism Act receives royal assent

The Localism Act has now received royal assent, having completed its passage through Parliament earlier this week.
 
The new legislation gives additional rights and powers to communities and individuals, including:

• making it easier for people to take over local assets like shops and pubs (through the community right to bid)
• giving local groups the right to express an interest in taking over the running of a local authority service (the community right to challenge)
• enabling local residents to call local authorities to account for the management of taxpayers’ money

You can find out more in our short guide to localism and see what some of our members think about the localism agenda in Charlotte’s blog.

More details on the Act are in the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) press release on the Localism Act and its Plain English guide to the changes. 

We are also holding a Localism Conference on 9 December 2011 in partnership with ACEVO to explore how localism is evolving both outside and within the sector, and how you can benefit from the range of opportunities created by this new agenda. Find the full programme and book your place at www.localismconference.org.uk.