Tewkesbury council chief accepts challenge of creating unitary council for Gloucestershire

By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter

Proposals to create a unitary council in Gloucestershire have been welcomed by Tewkesbury Borough’s Liberal Democrat leader Richard Stanley.

The Government published the English Devolution White Paper on Monday this week. Ministers say they aim to give more powers to local government.

But it also proposes creating more unitary councils which, in Gloucestershire, would mean district councils such as Gloucester City Council would be abolished.

Gloucestershire is currently a two-tier area where local government responsibilities are split between the County Council and district councils.

Gloucestershire County Council provides services which cover the whole county such as highways, education, waste disposal, transport, as well as adult and children’s social care.

While district councils such as Tewkesbury Borough are responsible for bin collections, environmental health, leisure facilities, planning and building control.

Tewkesbury Borough Council leader Richard Stanley (LD, Cleeve West) said the authority recognises a unitary council model has the capacity to deliver efficiencies in the current financial environment and they accept the challenge to deliver it.

He says what matters most is providing efficient services to residents in a cost-effective way.

“The Government has made devolution and local government reorganisation a priority,” he said.

“What matters most to our communities is an efficient local government that provides strong public services in a cost-effective way.

“In practical terms, this means ensuring our most vulnerable people are protected, offering accessible health services, tackling crime, resourcing schools, providing reliable bin collections and repairing our roads quickly.

“We recognise that a unitary council model has the capacity to deliver efficiencies in the current financial environment and we accept the challenge to deliver it.

“I know Gloucestershire has the potential to deliver increased funding for local investment in infrastructure, housing and public transport, and for protecting our natural environment and creating significant numbers of high-skilled, well-paid jobs – all of which are much needed for our rural and urban areas across the county.

“The publication of the white paper sets out a new local government structure. The deputy prime minister has assured us that she will be writing to all council leaders with the criteria for unitary councils that are the right size to run more efficiently and remain financially resilient.

“It is vital to the maintaining of smooth running of our services – and for our officers’ and service providers’ morale – that we provide certainty and a clear timeframe for change.

“As a forward-thinking council, we are committed to effective collaboration with neighbouring councils, and we will carefully consider the needs and priorities of our area to ensure that they are represented and addressed.”

Gloucestershire County Council’s Conservative leader Stephen Davies (Hardwicke and Severn) expressed his administration’s intent earlier this week for a unitary council for the county. In Gloucester, proposals to abolish the City Council have been met with strong objections from its current leader Jeremy Hilton.

While the Green Party leaders of Stroud and the Forest of Dean district councils have also expressed “deep concerns” over the changes to local government.

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk