THE Government recently announced the financial settlement to local authorities.

Although Thurrock faces cuts in line with the need to reduce public borrowing and debt, the cut in grant is well below the average faced by most other local councils.

But, ultimately, it isn’t right that local authorities find themselves at the whim of central government decisions as to how much money they have to spend. It makes for a morally bankrupt system where local councils make promises at elections and then hide behind Government when they don’t have enough money to do all they promised.

That is why we are pushing ahead with Localism, which will herald a shift of power from central Government to local councils and will give them greater financial independence. Until there is a more direct relationship between what local councils raise in taxes and what they spend, there will be no democratic accountability. It is little wonder voter participation in local elections is so low when so much of much of what local authorities do is dictated by central Government.

I want to see councils spend more of what is raised locally. I think it is wrong so much of what Thurrock raises in business rates isn’t spent here. We have also scrapped regional planning targets and plans, so planning powers are returned to local communities.

With that comes responsibility. Councils will no longer be able to hide behind Government to avoid making unpopular decisions. So Thurrock will have to make its own plans for housing and economic development. As voters you should get the local authority you vote for – and the buck stops with them.