The aim of the act is to facilitate the devolution of decision-making powers from central government control to individuals and communities.

The bill was introduced by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, and given its first reading on 13 December 2010.

Sections 27 to 36 deal with the standards expected of council members and with the keeping of public registers of interests.

In practice this prevented new BRS being proposed, as few rate-payers would voluntarily vote in favour of additional taxes.

The government at the time identified the Community Right to Challenge as an aspect of its approach to improving choice, access and accountability in public services.

This section also includes many changes to tenancy law, to the financing of local authority housing and to the handling of complaints.

[13] District Judge Nicholls found that Flower had a positive duty under Section 31(4) of the Act not to have participated in that meeting, nor to have voted.

[15] In November 2010, British Prime Minister David Cameron said that his government would "devolve a lot of power to Cornwall - that will go to the Cornish unitary authority.

"[16] Talks took place in 2011 between the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and a cross party group, including the six Cornish MPs, as to how to bring about the devolution of powers to Cornwall.

In November 2011, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority used the Localism Act 2011 to seek provision for a further transfer of powers that would result in an additional devolution of authority from the UK's central government, enhancing its powers over transport and housing and granting it competencies to fund and control schemes on its own terms.

[19] In 2013, Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe criticised the act, saying that it "does not challenge the deep-rooted centralisation in the UK".