Department for Communities and Local Government publishes 2010 to 2011 annual report and accounts
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published its Annual Report and Accounts for the 2010-11 financial year. Since the …
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published its Annual Report and Accounts for the 2010-11 financial year.
Since the Coalition Government was formed in May 2010, the Department has taken decisive action to make its radical localism agenda a reality and free up councils, businesses and communities to deliver economic growth. Key achievements highlighted in the annual report include:
- suspending Home Information Packs
- reducing red tape for councils by cutting out unnecessary form filling
- introducing a Localism Bill to Parliament to shift power away from central government to local communities
- increasing transparency by publishing details of its spending on all items over £500, and working to ensure that nearly all principal local authorities in England are doing the same
- announcing a crackdown on ‘garden grabbing’ as part of an overhaul and simplification of planning policy
- simplifying guidance to help communities organise street parties and summer fetes, and urging councils to remove unnecessary street clutter
- doubling small business rate relief.
A number of measures have also been introduced that take effect this financial year, including:
- freezing council tax in all England’s councils
- launching the New Homes Bonus to reward local authorities that build more homes, supported by almost £1bn over the Spending Review period
- committing £890m to the Regional Growth Fund over the Spending Review period
- increasing value for money in the Mortgage Rescue Scheme and introducing a FirstBuy equity loan scheme to support first time buyers.
Communities Secretary of State Eric Pickles said:
The Department for Communities and Local Government is leading a fundamental shift of power away from Whitehall to councils, communities and households across the nation. Since the Coalition Government was formed in May 2010, we have taken decisive action to make our radical localism agenda a reality and free up councils, businesses and communities to deliver economic growth.
By turning government upside down we will put businesses and councils back in charge of economic growth, town halls back in charge of local affairs and people back in charge of their lives.
All this was set against the need to tackle the record budget deficit. The Department made savings of £780m in 2010-11 and worked with local authorities to deliver £1.166bn savings in planned spending whilst protecting frontline services.
Note to editors
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The Annual Report and Accounts 2010/11 can be found on the Department’s website: www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/about/howwework/corporatereports/reportsaccounts.
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It is around 170 pages shorter than the last comparable documents, which were published separately in 2009.
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The Report provides an overview of the Department’s performance in 2010-11, structured around the five Coalition Priorities set out in the Business Plan, and aims to be accessible and easy to navigate online. The Accounts (also referred to as the Resource Accounts) provide detailed accounting and expenditure information.
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Hard copies of the report are available from The Stationary Office:
www.tsoshop.co.uk (external link) Tel: 0870 600 5522; Parliamentary Hotline: 08457 023474
Fax orders: 0870 600 5533
Email: customer.services@tso.co.uk
- Copies of the Report can also be obtained from:
The Parliamentary Bookshop Telephone orders/general enquiries: 020 7219 3890
Fax orders: 020 7219 3866
Email: bookshop@parliament.uk
Internet: www.bookshop.parliament.uk (external link)
(reference: Department for Communities and Local Government Annual Report and Accounts 2010-11 for the year ended 31 March 2011, HC 971).
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