The Conservatives will today announce plans to decentralise local government.

Under the proposals, local groups and individuals could take control of local assets such as parks and community halls, while authorities would be freed to generate additional funds and run services without Whitehall control.

Shadow local government secretary Bernard Jenkin is expected to argue that "social entrepreneurs should have the freedom to first manage then assume ownership of under-used public sector assets such as community halls, parks or vacant land".

Some senior figures in the party are describing such a move as "part-privatising" councils.