With the House rising for the Christmas recess this week, the busy days have continued for me as Minister for Local Government and English Devolution.
This week saw the government publish our English Devolution White Paper, our measures to permanently put power back into the community, and taking back control of the place we live. Once put into Law, it will represent the biggest transfer of power away from Westminster to local people for a generation.
We are working together in partnership across central and local government through the Leaders Council to tackle head on the big issues facing local government and communities. We discussed the English Devolution White Paper, public sector reform, homelessness and resettlement as well as finances.
We also set out the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement this week, worth £69bn with an extra £3.7bn for social care and a new £600m Recovery Grant directed to areas with higher deprivation. We are getting on with fixing the foundations of local public services as part of our Plan for Change.
I’d like to wish everyone in Oldham West, Chadderton and Royton who celebrates during the festive period a very Merry Christmas and hope you all have a Happy New Year!
Jim McMahon OBE MP 