Carl Les

Carl Les broadly welcomes the Government’s “Rewiring the State” proposals to decentralise England, reduce central civil service control and give local and regional authorities greater responsibility for funding, skills, transport and economic development. He argues that sustainable economic growth should be the central purpose of government and mayors, while noting that the proposals build on earlier Conservative devolution reforms. Les supports local control of skills, affordable housing, arts and sports funding, and taxation, but questions how public bus control can work across sparsely populated rural areas. He also calls for scrutiny of the proposed overnight visitor levy, warns that local tax devolution may initially bring no additional money, and stresses that the success of the reforms will depend on the detail due to be published at the autumn Budget.

Carl Les, Conservative leader of North Yorkshire Council, reviews the council’s adult social care and public health services, including a £289 million social care budget, a £3.6 million overspend and a strong Care Quality Commission rating. He supports shifting care toward prevention, community services and support closer to home, while warning that rising demand, an ageing population and a Fair Pay Agreement will increase costs. Les also welcomes the government’s proposed fiscal and administrative devolution, describing it as a major step away from the UK’s highly centralised system despite delays, no new funding and the need for Westminster approval. He opens by criticising the BBC’s repetitive campaign defending the licence fee.