Mike Penning has given his support to a new law to give power back to local communities.

Local MP, Mike Penning, has given his support to the Sustainable Communities Bill which was introduced by Ruislip-Northwood MP, Nick Hurd.

If passed, the new law will give local councils greater control over their budgets. The bill also introduces a requirement for the production of a community action plan and critically allows greater discretion by local councils – including town and parish councils – to allocate spending for the most important services.

Mike said:

“There is a lot of feeling that too many decisions about peoples lives are being taken by unelected and distant government organisations. Local knowledge and understanding is being ignored in too many cases.”

He added:

“People feel that they are helpless when they watch their community services – post office, bus routes, local greengrocers – disappear and once the centre of the community is devoid of services, it can easily spiral into a ‘ghost-town’ of fast-food shops and graffiti. Local character is being lost and everywhere looks the same.”

The bill is backed by the Conservatives and has cross-party support of over 350 MPs but is opposed by the Government. The bill received its second reading in the House of Commons today and now moves to committee stage.