CLGF has submitted its comments and response on the draft report by the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group (EPG), which was set up by Heads of Government to undertake a review the workings of the Commonwealth and make proposals to their next meeting in Perth, Australia, October 2011. In its submission, CLGF shares the view that the core comparative advantage of the Commonwealth lies in its shared political and democratic values and emphasises in this context the importance of local democracy as reflected in the Commonwealth Aberdeen Principles. It notes the proposals for a new position of Commissioner for Democracy and the Rule of Law and for a new Charter of the Commonwealth and expresses the hope that, if agreed, these should also address issues and principles relating to democracy and good governance at local level. CLGF further recalls that development policies often have, as a significant component, local economic development strategies by local governments and draws attention to the Cardiff Consensus on Local Economic Development, agreed at its recent conference.It calls for an increase in the Secretariat’s technical assistance budget with funds earmarked for delivery by CLGF in partnership with the Secretariat. While noting its positive interaction with the Commonwealth Secretariat and recent efforts to ensure enhanced cooperation on individual projects and programmes, so as to avoid duplication, CLGF is also looking for more strategic coordination between the inter-governmental Commonwealth agencies and the seven associated Commonwealth agencies, including CLGF. It feels this can best be achieved by strengthening the mechanisms for strategic cooperation and maximising resources between the Secretariat and the associated agencies, building on an initial meeting held between them in March, which was convened at the request of the Chairperson-in-Office, Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago and chaired by her foreign minister.