By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
A survey which seeks views on a shake-up of councils in Gloucestershire has been blasted as “unbelievably cynical” and a “waste of public money”.
Ministers announced with the English Devolution bill late last year plans to reorganise local government across England.
Gloucestershire is currently served by one county council and six district authorities.
And the proposed changes aim to replace these with unitary councils which would lead to fewer and larger authorities in the county.
There are three proposals being considered across Gloucester, one which would involve a single council covering the whole county.
Another, which would see the current footprint of the County Council split into two.
This would involve an authority in the east made up of the borough of Cheltenham and Tewkesbury as well as the Cotswold District.
And another council in the west made up of the city of Gloucester and the districts of Stroud and the Forest of Dean.
The third option involves a Greater Gloucester council with one or two other unitary authorities around it – this has been dubbed the ‘Doughnut’
Residents have been asked to share their views but public opinions on these specific options are not being sought at this time.
All seven councils are working together focused on gathering feedback on how local services can best meet the needs of residents both now and in the future.
Former Shire Hall leader Stephen Davies (C, Hardwick and Severn) has reacted with incredulity to the survey.
And the Conservative has demanded that Liberal Democrat leader withdraw it and provide the “full consultation promised during the elections”.
“[It] fails to ask the key question about Local Government Reorganisation, which model would you prefer, One Gloucestershire, Two Gloucestershire, East and West or the Gloucester ‘Doughnut’,”
Cllr Davies said in a letter to Cllr Spivey
“I can only assume that you have chosen to do this is because you know as does everyone else that the public and local businesses when asked have a strong opinion which is for one council across Gloucestershire.
“This is the result of the petition run by the Liberal Democrat leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council.
“Your survey is both unbelievably cynical and a waste of public money. It treats the electorate as too stupid to understand the question.
“I demand you withdraw it and replace this with the full consultation that you promised in the election campaign only eight weeks ago.”
Cllr Spivey said in a letter back to Cllr Davies that she pledged to urgently re-set relationships with partners and made it very clear she wanted to work with all councillors when she became leader of the County Council.
And she was “disappointed but not surprised” to receive the letter from Cllr Davies as Shire Hall’s relationship with partners across the county “had become stained under the Tories’ leadership”.
“I was very disappointed, although not surprised, to receive your email and accompanying letter last night.
“The tone of your correspondence sums up exactly the challenge I have faced over the last few weeks.
“The engagement piece you call ‘ridiculous and insulting’ is work we have co-commissioned.
“Your descriptors ‘cowardly and dishonest’ are accusations you fling at all of us.
“Since I became leader, we have established an open, transparent and collaborative approach to dealing with the huge challenge that successful delivery of local government reorganisation poses to all of us as leaders of our councils, and by default, the residents of Gloucestershire.
“We have created a space, along with the chief executives of each authority, of respectful challenge and frank discussions as we navigate the complexities of local government reorganisation.
“We may have very different views on how this can be delivered successfully (and whether it is even needed at all), but we align closely on committing to working through the challenges and ensuring that any option presented to the government is deliverable.”
She said part of their work is to engage with residents, partners and stakeholders across the county about where they live, where they feel they belong, whether they interact with their local council, how they do that and what services they feel are important.
The group collectively decided to use part of the money given to them by the Government to support this work which will be used by all partners in working up the business cases for the three options presented in March this year.
“This is not a consultation on which model is preferred as that work will happen after November 28 when options are received by the Government. It is a shame that you have chosen to approach this matter in this way.
“I have deliberately set up regular meetings with opposition leaders at Gloucestershire County Council to keep everyone up to speed with the work which is happening, and this engagement piece was discussed at our last meeting.
“I will be continuing to work with my fellow council leaders to shape a positive future for Gloucestershire, delivering good services for all our residents, driving economic growth, ensuring our workforce has the skills required to thrive in the modern workplace, tackling the climate and ecological emergencies and caring for our most vulnerable residents.
“I hope that you and the members of your group will be part of that positive journey and striving for the residents you represent.”
People wishing to take part in the survey can do so by clicking here. It runs until August 9, 2025.
The County Council says resident and stakeholder opinions will play a vital role in shaping the final proposals before they are submitted to the government in the autumn.
Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk
Original post on the Gloucestershire News Centre website
Gloucestershire News Centre