Think-tank: Quangos eroding democracy

MORE than 500 quangos — bodies, agencies and task-forces set up at local government level — are eroding democracy by removing councillors from decisions that affect their communities, a think-tank has warned.

A review is under way into around 1,000 special state bodies at national level with a view to amalgamating some and abolishing others.

TASC — the Think-tank for Action on Social Change — said this review should be extended to include the 500 to 600 agencies and bodies that exist at a local level.