A Green Vision for Local Governance: Recognising the Value of Public Services

Opinion piece By Jacqi Hodgson

The government’s recent proposal to dissolve district councils and transfer their responsibilities to new larger unitary authorities has sent a ripple of anxiety through local councils across Devon. Under the plan, the county, district, and city councils have been asked to submit proposals for reorganising services based on recognisable areas with populations of at least 500,000.

While the shape of this reorganisation is still uncertain, it presents a critical opportunity to ask: what should local government services look like – and who should run them?

For the Green Party, the answer is clear. We believe public services should be publicly owned, publicly delivered, and designed to meet the real needs of our communities. These services go far beyond waste collection and road maintenance. They include education, housing support, planning, support for disabled people, fostering, and provision for children with special needs. Public health and adult social care are also major responsibilities, accounting for a significant share of our council tax spending. Added to this is vital environmental work, such as monitoring air and water quality and enforcing protections against those who damage or destroy wildlife habitats.

This web of services is central to the wellbeing of our communities and our environment – and it deserves to be properly valued and resourced.

Unfortunately, the system has been steadily eroded over the past decade. Austerity policies introduced by the Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition in 2012 slashed central government funding to local authorities. Councils were given five years’ notice that their core funding would be phased out entirely by 2018. The impact was devastating. Devon County Council lost a third of its staff. South Hams District Council cut nearly a quarter. As services shrank, potholes multiplied and maintenance was deferred. Requests for services that were once routine are now too often met with the all-too-familiar response: “Computer says no.”

The situation was made worse by Brexit, which drove up costs, and by the chaos of the COVID pandemic. But these were not the only factors. A deeper, longer-term issue lies in the legacy of privatisation – a model first championed under Thatcher and then extended by Blair through Public Private Initiatives (PPIs). These deals handed over key public services to private contractors, removing direct council control and eroding democratic accountability. The result? Less transparency, less value for money, and a workforce often denied basic rights.

Now is the time for change. This proposed shake-up in local governance gives us the chance to bring services back in-house, where they belong. Councils should be empowered to deliver services directly through their own staff – experienced officers who understand their communities and are invested in their success.

There’s already proof this works. South Hams District Council’s recent decision to return waste collection services to in-house delivery has shown the benefits: better value for the public, improved working conditions for staff, and stronger local control. Public delivery also means employees are more likely to have access to fairer pay, stable contracts, and the right to be represented by a recognised trade union – rights that are often harder to secure under private contractors.

But it’s not just about scaling up. Local governance needs to work downwards too. Larger authorities must strengthen ties with town and parish councils, empowering them to develop services that reflect local priorities and enable community involvement.

A Green Vision for local government puts people and planet first. It values care, cooperation, and sustainability over profit. And it offers a future where thriving local services support thriving local communities – without costing the earth.