Given that there is far less variation between regions or classes than between authorities as a whole, the formulae could be relatively simple, and could also involve indicators such as GDP per capita or employment levels, which are not robust at individual authority level. Alternatively, allocations could be made along the lines of the way in which control totals are decided for service blocks. This would involve greater use of judgement, and would involve taking factors into account such as each class or region s previous allocation, demographic and social trends and spending pressures particular to each region or class. Once regional or class totals were determined, the second stage would involve allocating the totals to the constituent authorities. There is an issue about who would make the decisions about how each total was distributed.
Regional assemblies have yet to be established.
Though the Greater London Authority has been created, there were concerns that giving it a role in grant distribution within London could prove controversial. There could be scope to increase local ownership of the grant distribution process. Local authorities within each region could be responsible for grant distribution within each region. For example, in the case of differentiation by class, the SDI favour an approach by which distribution would be determined by districts themselves operating as a self-regulating authority. However, should there be failure to agree, there might have to be arbitration or default arrangements in place.