The Government has today 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
eight councils in Northamptonshire and replace them with two new
unitary councils, North Northamptonshire and West
Northamptonshire. In April this year, the County Council and four
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 three 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 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.”
Councils in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset will now have
the opportunity to decide whether to develop and submit their
locally-led proposals with the aim of any new unitary councils
being established in these areas by April 2023.
The Government may receive more than one locally led proposal for
each area reflecting the local debates. In the event of this, the
Local Government Secretary will consider all proposals received
and decide which, if any, subject to consultation and
Parliamentary approval, to implement.
He will assess any locally-led proposal he receives against the
longstanding criteria for unitarisation. These are that a
proposal should be improve the area's local government, command a
good deal of local support across the area and cover an area that
provides a credible geography. The size of any unitary council
will be considered, but should always take into account local
identity and local geography, as well as economies of scale.
The Government has also re-affirmed the broad principles on local
government re-organisation, as set out in a Written Ministerial
Statement in July 2019.
Restructuring local government through moving to a unitary
structure can improve decision-making and deliver value for money
for local residents, however councils can also opt for different
administrative reforms including merging district councils, joint
committees, adopting joint plans, sharing back-office services,
special purpose vehicles to promote regeneration like Local
Development Corporations, or delivering cost-savings through
efficiency measures.
The Government will not impose top-down restructuring of local
government and will continue to follow a locally-led approach for
unitarisation where councils can develop proposals which have
strong local support. This has been the Government’s consistent
approach since 2010 and the introduction of the Local Government
Act 2010. Those in an area will know best – the very essence of
localism to which the Government remains committed.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- 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 and district councils in the area: Mendip,
Sedgemoor Somerset West and Taunton and South Somerset.
- Councils in Cumbria invited to submit proposals include
Cumbria County Council and the 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
