http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/communityempowerment/communitiesincontrol/

The Government has published a White Paper setting out proposals to deliver a fundamental shift in power, influence and responsibility into the hands of communities and citizens through: more information and greater influence over the local decisions that affect them; new means of holding politicians and councils to account; and, where they choose, more opportunity to get directly involved in managing and shaping how local services are delivered. Measures include: new rights for the public to demand action from their council; increasing accountability; getting redress when things go wrong; giving local people a direct say on how budgets are spent; funding of third sector community organisations; local people running local assets; making it easier for people to get a directly elected mayor; a new duty on local authorities to promote democracy; and empowering young people.

A number of supporting documents have been published alongside the White Paper. These include:

Communities in control: real people, real power: Evidence annex
This annex focuses on the state of empowerment in England and presents some of the key evidence underpinning the policies outlined in the White Paper Communities in control: real people, real power. First, it examines the extent to which people are currently empowered and considers the degree to which they demand empowerment. Second, it outlines the barriers and incentives that appear most prominently in conceptual and empirical studies. The final section explores the potential outcomes of well executed participation exercises.

Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities: Statutory guidance
This document provides statutory guidance to local authorities and their partners on creating strong, safe and prosperous communities. It covers the duty to involve and duties around Local Area Agreements in the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. It also replaces previous guidance on Local Strategic Partnerships and Sustainable Community Strategies. Taken together, this document is a comprehensive guide to local authorities and their partners on how to engage their citizens, lead their communities, and find new and more effective ways to deliver high quality services.

The Government response to the Councillors Commission
This is the Government's response to the recommendations of the Councillors Commission's report on encouraging a more diverse range of people to become councillors so that communities are better represented.

Communities in Control White Paper: Impact assessments
This document provides a summary impact assessment of the objectives, options, costs, benefits and risks of proposals in the white paper Communities in Control.

Consultation papers have also been published alongside this White Paper. One paper outlines proposals to enhance the Communities and Local Government Third Sector Partnership Board, covering its future role and remit, membership and way of working. Another consultation document seeks views on a draft of the Environment Fund Prospectus which the Government intends to issue to provide support to existing national third sector organisations operating across England to help local communities turn key proposals to action on the ground. Comments on both papers are requested by 30 September 2008.