The Localism Act 2011 aims to give local people and groups more opportunities to shape local services. It has five main principles:
- To increase choice by giving people direct control over the services they use (if possible)
- Power should be decentralised to the lowest possible level
- Public services should be open to a range of providers competing to offer better services
- The State's role is to deliver fair access, fair funding and fair competition
- Public services should be accountable to users and tax payers.
There are three main Community Rights reflected within the Act. These are the right to Challenge, Bid and Build.
