In an article in The Conversation PERU's Chris O'Leary argues that reforms to the way local authorities are funded are probably the most radical – and least discussed – changes made by the coalition and conservative governments since 2010.


In an article in The Conversation PERU’s Chris O’Leary argues that reforms to the way local authorities are funded are probably the most radical – and least discussed – changes made by the coalition and conservative governments since 2010. But, as Chris explains they affect the millions of people across England who rely on local services including social care, state schools, housing and planning and waste collection – and could mean big changes on the horizon for taxpayers.

Chris who has undertaken extensive research on local government and is a former Chair of Housing in an inner London borough argues that localising health care, introducing individual local taxation and removing restrictions on local authority revenue-raising are some of the more radical (but politically explosive) ideas that need to be considered.