England's best-performing councils are to flex their muscles with a demand for more influence over the quangos that run and fund local services.
The 22 councils that received "excellent" Audit Commission scores last month – 15 of them housing authorities – say the promise of limited freedom to borrow is not enough of a reward. They demand representation on the boards of relevant quangos.

In a paper called Local Ambition, Local Leadership, the councils set out a programme that includes: "Redressing the balance of influence between non-departmental public bodies and elected local government".

The Housing Corporation stressed its board members are government-appointed but have always included at least one person with a local government background.

Meanwhile, in a move that could defuse tensions over democratic control, local government minister Nick Raynsford has announced a further review of council finance.

Source

Housing Today