Type Think tank | Location Westminster | |
Formation 2001; 16 years ago (2001) Founded at London, England, United Kingdom Purpose Localism and devolution Headquarters 8a Lower Grosvenor Place, London, SW1W 0EN | ||
Localis is an independent think tank that is dedicated to issues related to local government and localism. It was founded in 2001 and is currently based in Westminster, United Kingdom. Localis describes itself as independent think tank dedicated to issues related to local government and localism. The organisation believes that power should be exercised as close as possible to the people it serves and are therefore dedicated to challenging the existing centralisation of power and responsibility.
Contents
- Can Localism Deliver Lessons from Manchester
- The Rate Escape Freeing Local Government to Drive Economic Growth
- Current members of the board
- References
Localis publish papers on a variety of public policy areas, including health and social care; housing and planning; and local government finance policy. Past publications have argued for greater financial autonomy for local authorities, the creation of a national infrastructure bank and that the Right to Buy should be extended into equity slivers. The think tank has also published reports on topics including health and social integration, Local Enterprise Partnerships and municipal enterprise.
Current members of the board include Sir Merrick Cockell (who is also chairman), Sir Edward Lister, Councillor Paul Carter, Councillor Paul Bettison and Councillor David Burbage. Former chief executives include James Morris, elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Halesowen and Rowley Regis in May 2010.
On 25 July 2016, Liam Booth-Smith took over the role of Chief Executive, replacing the outgoing Alex Thomson.
Can Localism Deliver? Lessons from Manchester
In 2009, Localis published a report entitled Can Localism Deliver? Lessons from Manchester. It series of recommendations to devolve powers to local government was highly influential in the establishment of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
The report included a foreword by Michael Heseltine who was influential in the 2010-15 coalition government’s attempts to promote the advancement of devolution, especially through the Northern Powerhouse. Heseltine mentioned in the report that “we need mechanisms that drive communities together, embracing academia, the private sector, the voluntary sector and others with a stake in our society to seek solutions designed in the circumstances on the ground and not forged as a national ‘one solution fits all’ diktat from London.”
The Rate Escape: Freeing Local Government to Drive Economic Growth
In 2011, the think tank also published a report which argued that local government must be given greater local financial autonomy through being allowed to retain business rates. The report attracted support from a range of prominent figures. Bob Neill said that the report “underlines the real importance of Government's drive to end councils' dependence on the whims of Whitehall grants” whilst Miles Templeman called it a “powerful model for business rate reform”. In 2015, George Osbourne announced that English councils would be able to keep all of the proceedings from business rates, calling it “the biggest transfer of power” in recent history.