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Society | The third dimension |
 | | Milliband, one of the brightest Blairite stars and former head of the Downing Street policy unit before becoming MP for South Shields in 2001, is no enemy of local government. |
 | | Milliband must produce some new formula – perhaps re-examining the case for a basket of taxes and the return of the business rate to local councils, with a property tax remaining the principal source of funding – to try to fend off the inevitable political onslaught when properties are re-assessed in England in 2007. |
 | | Milliband's predecessor, Nick Raynsford, floated the idea of a low-key reorganisation of local government to achieve economies of scale, beginning with small district councils merging back-office functions – and operating joint departments and, maybe, joint chief executives – as a prelude to more formal mergers. |
| society.guardian.co.uk /print/0,3858,5190286-108586,00.html (2674 words) |
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