Editor's blog: So much for the devolution of power

The excoriating cross-party analysis by the communities and local government select committee of progress on localism exposes the chasm between the government's localist rhetoric and its actions. For decades parties have trumpeted the virtues of devolving power from Whitehall while in opposition and failed to deliver when in office. But David Cameron pushed the rhetoric to its limits. In 2009 he told the Guardian he wanted a fundamental shift of power to local people and local institutions, while the coalition programme promised a "radical devolution of power and greater financial autonomy to local government and community groups". There are weaknesses at every stage of the localism drive: no coherent vision of what localism means, no systematic pressure from Downing Street to devolve power, a weak department overseeing localism, and a secretary of state who repeatedly undermines local government autonomy. Localism is having some effect on the coalition's policies – notably in the moves to make health more locally accountable – but the conditions are not being created for government departments to push power out wholesale. No criteria have been set for devolution; ministers are not being judged on their localist zealotry; and beyond implementing piecemeal reforms civil servants have no incentive to change the way they work. Against this background the supposed power of general competence for councils in the localism bill is little more than a reminder of what might have been. The department for communities and local government – what passes for local government's champion in Whitehall – is marginalised. It has been reorganised four times since 1997 and was widely regarded as one of the weakest departments in Labour's final years. In 2006 a Cabinet Office "capability review" castigated it for lacking the reputation and ability to exert strategic influence across government. Three years later the select committee could find only minimal progress. It now has a highly regarded permanent secretary in Sir Bob Kerslake, former chief executive of Sheffield city council. He is working with cabinet secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell to bring some coherence of approach across departments, but this will surely stall in the face of sabotage by communities secretary Eric Pickles. His interference in the minutiae of local decision-making, from council newspapers to bin collections, isn't just an irritation. His use of the term "guided localism" - rounded on by committee chair Clive Betts in his article for the local government network – sets the tone for the rest of government. If Pickles tramples on the very concept he is supposed to be championing, it is no surprise when other ministers ignore it. Each tier of our power pyramid balks at moving power downwards – government to councils, counties to districts, councils to parishes and community groups. Pickles' antidote to local government's sticky power fingers is the community right to challenge, giving voluntary groups, parishes and staff rights to take over a local service. The select committee has proposed, with considerable political wit, that ministers match this community right with a local government right to challenge Whitehall for the opportunity to deliver services. This idea neatly exposes the government's double standards. The ministerial response to the committee's report rightly stresses that councils do not have a monopoly on devolved power. But the government's circumvention of local government – dispersing power to institutions such as academies and elected police commissioners – undermines localism by preventing local government becoming an effective counterbalance to Whitehall. Ramming together the two poorly defined concepts of localism and the Big Society is not going produce a critical mass to force power from the centre – it will result in changes at the margins while the centralised state carries on much as before. So much for Cameron's fundamental shift. Richard Vize is contributing editor of the Guardian local government network. This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. Join the local government network for more like this direct to your inbox.