Local lessons

Instead, they rely on policy drives involving very little outlay but significant popular appeal – hence the Big Society and a return of power from Whitehall to local communities.

Both are brought together in the coalition’s Localism Bill covering housing targets, planning system reforms and new rights for councils, communities and individuals.

One element of the Bill sets out new powers to allow the public to benefit from community assets held in private hands, based on the proud tradition of generations of landowners and businesses which have for centuries given land or buildings for sports fields, village halls and such like.

The coaltion’s plans are well-meaning – but it remains to be seen if they are practical in the commercial realities of the real world.

Those realities are felt daily by members of the Country Landowners Association which yesterday, in a serious blow for Ministers, described the plans as “deeply flawed”.

It claims that they will increase red tape and even discourage landowners from providing land and buildings for use by local people. And it rightly criticises Ministers for making no mention of threatened rural pubs and post offices – often the heart of communities – and harnessing them for public benefit.

There can be little argument that the era of central diktat, so beloved by Labour, is over. Yet there must be concerns that the coaltion’s measures will offer little incentive to local people to take up the reins. Ministers have an outstanding opportunity to give power to the people. They must make sure the powers are those that people can use.