Communities Secretary Eric Pickles will today (Tuesday 23 July) hear how councils are successfully using the General Power of Competence (GPC) to meet community needs, boost local growth and drive innovation.
"The Secretary of State will join Local Government Association (LGA) Chairman Sir Merrick Cockell and the National Association of Local Councils (NALC) Chairman Ken Browse at a joint LGA and NALC event in Westminster to discover the progress of a number of schemes being developed using the GPC across the country.
The event launches the LGA publication 'Empowering councils to make a difference' which looks how a number of councils are using the GPC over a year from its introduction.
Examples of successful schemes include a programme to improve primary school performance, establishing funds to provide loan finance to local businesses and setting up mortgage schemes to help boost local housing markets..."
N.B.
"The GPC was introduced by the Localism Act 2011 and came into force in February 2012. It gives councils the power to do anything an individual can do provided it is not prohibited by other legislation."
http://www.local.gov.uk/web/guest/media-releases/-/journal_content/56/10171/4071785/NEWS-TEMPLATE