The government has today (9 October 2020) invited councils in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset to submit locally-led proposals for unitary local government, responding to requests from these areas.
Councils in these three areas now have the opportunity to develop and submit their proposals for how they want to restructure local government in their area to establish unitary local government. This would mean moving from a two-tier system of county and district councils, to a system where there is a single tier for any given area.
For example, earlier this year legislation was signed to abolish 8 councils in Northamptonshire and replace them with 2 new unitary councils, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire.
In April this year, the county council and 4 district councils in Buckinghamshire were abolished and the new Buckinghamshire Council took on full local government functions and powers.
Invitations are being issued to councils in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset as these 3 areas are advanced in their discussions about local government restructuring and councils in these areas have asked for an invitation to be issued. Formally inviting them to submit proposals is the first step in the legal process towards restructuring.
Local Government Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:
‘Councils in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset are already working on developing their locally-led unitary proposals and I am now giving them the opportunity to submit them for consideration.
‘Where there is local support, changing the structure of local government can offer better value for money and improved services for residents. We have always been clear that any restructuring of local government must continue to be locally-led and will not involve top-down solutions from government.’
Nottinghamshire County Council leader Cllr Kay Cutts had proposed the abolition of borough and district councils across the county in favour of a unitary authority, a letter was written to ministers to ask for a submission to be accepted.
Councillor Jason Zadrozny, Leader of Ashfield District Council has been one of the people from all parties leading the opposition to a new Super Council.
He said: “Yet again, the Tory bid to scrap councils like ours has failed. This time, the bill for failure to Council Tax payers is well in excess of £100,000.
“I am sure, like me the 11,000 council workers from our Boroughs and Districts who put their lives at risk during the pandemic will welcome this. Ashfield District Council will continue to put residents first during the coronavirus crisis and concentrate on our recovery.
“At a time when Nottinghamshire County Council should be concentrating on putting people first – they have shown an arrogant disregard for local people. By pursuing an ideological power grab at the expense of helping residents – the conservatives have shown breath-taking arrogance.
“Instead of trying to tackle to root cause of their financial troubles – they have attempted to use the fall out from the coronavirus pandemic to push through plans for a council representing over 800,000 residents and spent over £100,000 in the process. I am not sure that residents will forgive them for this.
“I am pleased that Councillor Kay Cutts will now not seek re-election but this failure is about much more than her. The misleading information came not just from their councillors – but was also repeated by expensive, tax-payer funding spin doctors and senior officers. They need to look at themselves today and consider their future too.”
Cllr Kay Cutts announced she is standing down both as Leader of NCC and as a councillor in May.
Further information
Councils in North Yorkshire invited to submit proposals include:
Craven District Council
Hambleton District Council
Harrogate Borough Council
North Yorkshire County Council
Richmondshire District Council
Ryedale District Council
Scarborough Borough Council (Whitby Scarborough Filey)
Selby District Council
York City Council
Councils in Somerset invited to submit proposals include:
Somerset County Council
Bath and North East Somerset Council
North Somerset Council
district councils in the area: Mendip; Sedgemoor; Somerset West and Taunton; South Somerset
Councils in Cumbria invited to submit proposals include:
Cumbria County Council
district councils in the area: Allerdale; Barrow-in-Furness; Carlisle; Copeland; Eden; South Lakeland
Formally inviting councils to submit unitary proposals is the first step in the legal process towards restructuring under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007
