LOCAL POWER
  • Intro
  • Why do this?
  • What could it do?
  • Who else has done this?
  • Arguments For & Against
  • What area should it cover?
  • Myths
  • UDI 1970
  • More info
  • Who is behind this?
  • I am interested what next?
  • Intro
  • Why do this?
  • What could it do?
  • Who else has done this?
  • Arguments For & Against
  • What area should it cover?
  • Myths
  • UDI 1970
  • More info
  • Who is behind this?
  • I am interested what next?
Arguments FOR a local Council

Organisational

Would allow decisons to be made locally by local people who would have the knowledge and long term interests of the area at heart.

Local Focus
The local Council would only be interested in local issues where it has some power or responsibility. It should not get involved in national or international issues.
​This area is so unique that it needs a unique local focus.


Financial
  • Would allow long term decisions to be made locally.
  • Would provide capacity to deal with local issues. 
  • Access to 25% of future Community Infrastructure Levy receipts
  • The local Council could apply for a range of government grants and assist other local organisations to apply for other grants e.g. Lottery funding.

Political
Would give local people more power and be a champion for the local area.
Arguments AGAINST a local Council
More bureaucracy
This would add another layer of government to the area so we would have 3 layers;
  1. Mayor of London & Greater London Authority
  2. Mayor of Tower Hamlets & the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
  3. New local Council
That would require extra work and more co-ordination. More bureaucracy. 

It does not come for free
This would cost money paid for by residents through Council tax. How much depends on the consultation and what the Council decides but it is likely to add around £45 to 50 a year to the average Council tax bill (assuming no discounts or subsidy), see Who else has done this? for examples of what other other Councils charges.
Opponents will say this costs hundreds of pounds a year. That is not correct but the next phase of the consultation will ask more questions on this.

Tower Hamlets Council would do less
​One fear expressed by some is that if we had a local Council that Tower Hamlets Council would do less in the new Council area. They would think not there problem anymore or else they might think that if the local Council had a grants programme that they did not need to provide grants to the area themselves.
That would be illegal but could remain a risk. 

The wrong people will be in charge
The new Council would have its own elections, would elect its own Councillors, it might be that you elect the wrong people (in your view). That is a risk but one easily solved by people voting for the right people.

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  • Intro
  • Why do this?
  • What could it do?
  • Who else has done this?
  • Arguments For & Against
  • What area should it cover?
  • Myths
  • UDI 1970
  • More info
  • Who is behind this?
  • I am interested what next?