3 November 2021According to reports in the Municipal Journal (MJ), recently appointed Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove MP, will be undertaking a major review of all current programmes at the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
The article quotes a source with knowledge of the work of the department who states, ‘If it doesn’t contribute to levelling up it’s going to be got rid of or reshaped so that it does. There’s a lot up in the air for the department at the moment.’
The levelling up White Paper has been delayed by at least a couple of weeks to allow Mr Gove and former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane, an opportunity to examine the details of the contents.
The MJ reports that the government is understood to be considering the creation of four regional Cabinet committees to focus on levelling up policy.
When recently asked to define further the concept of levelling up, Mr Gove stated that as part of the drive the government would ‘consider how we can drive devolution further, improve the quality of public services and give people a proper pride in the place where they live.’
Mr Gove has been reported as saying that he had ‘one of the most important jobs in government’ which is ‘critical to the leadership of the country.’
Chairman of the Local Government Association (LGA), James Jamieson said that the appointment of Mr Gove was ‘very helpful’ for the sector as he brought ‘real clout’.
