Council 'must change again'

Coun Steve Houghton said giving local councils more control would also help break voters' habit of using local elections to protest against central government.

It was time for Labour to "build the brand locally", show more leadership, and capitalise on the skills of residents and the close-knit nature of Barnsley society, he added.

In the last 10 years Labour has seen its support in Barnsley dwindle to an all-time low of 33 councillors. Barnsley Independent Group has 21 councillors, the Tories five, the Lib Dems two, and two are non-aligned.

Coun Houghton said: "In Barnsley, white working-class communities are becoming seriously disaffected.

"One-off welfare initiatives in many of these communities tend to be targeted at those at the bottom of the employment ladder, and rightly so. But those outside these parameters have begun to resent such approaches and are showing their disapproval through the electoral process.

"In the past it was easy to see the difference between Labour and the Conservatives - state ownership and public services versus the free market and privatisation. Now, locally, there appears to be little to choose between our aims.

"Many Labour councillors and councils have found it difficult to articulate and sell a distinctive Labour brand and persuade the local electorate there is a difference between the parties."

The Government's devolution proposals were a step in the right direction, he said, but it was time for a new relationship between central and local government.

"Freeing up councils also means giving local parties the ability to work with their localities. In recent years, too many councillors have felt undervalued and unimportant."

In Barnsley a shake-up in the council's structure seven years ago saw the creation of a nine-strong decision-making cabinet which left many councillors complaining of feeling sidelined.

Coun Houghton added: "Labour, locally, needs to build the brand on the inside as well as the outside. Party meetings could become community meetings - the natural home for community and civic debate. I believe the concept of a 'national' welfare state has to change to one of a 'localised' working state."