The powers could be conferred onto neighbourhood bodies a bit like Parish Councils after a community had issued a “call for action” to the local authority over issues like graffiti, street cleaning, community safety and youth facilities etc. The council would then have to respond by demonstrating what they intended to do to improve the service. As a “last resort” the neighbourhood body could either run the services themselves or appoint a manager to do so.

The white paper will also revisit powers to encourage directly elected mayors, which is a concept that has largely flopped in England with just 13 in place including London’s Ken Livingstone. The current requirement to hold a local referendum before a mayor can take control of a council is expected to be removed. Councils that agree to accept a mayor are likely to get increased powers and possibly funding.

The concept of ‘city regions’ is also expected to be given a boost. Such regions would be responsible for a range of local government services based on travel to work areas and spheres of economic influence around major cities rather than county boundaries. They may even have control of transport, economic planning and skills agendas.