COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENT News Release (216) issued by The Government News Network
on 19 November 2007
Local Government
Minister John Healey has invited three Bedfordshire councils to
submit proposals for unitary status.
Bedfordshire County Council, Mid-Bedfordshire District Council
and South Bedfordshire District Council have been asked to draw up
their proposals following the decision that the Government is
minded to implement proposals for a unitary authority for Bedford
Borough Council.
Any new proposals must demonstrate how restructuring will deliver
strong, effective and accountable strategic leadership, genuine
opportunities for neighbourhood flexibility and empowerment; and
value for money and equity on public services. They must also
demonstrate how the change to the future unitary structure will be
affordable and supported by a broad cross section of partners and stakeholders.
Confirming that the Government remains minded to implement
Bedford Borough's unitary proposal John Healey said:
"Re-structuring will create flagship councils leading the
way on promoting prosperity, empowering communities, and improving
services. Councils tell us that the changes we are minded to
implement will save £150m per year to be directly transferred into
improving services or reducing council tax bills.
"The remaining area of Bedfordshire needs unitary local
government to complement any unitary Bedford Council, and through
this invitation we will ensure that the whole of Bedfordshire
benefits from this opportunity."
The deadline for the new proposals is 17 December 2007. Ministers
will take final decisions on which proposals to implement across
the country shortly.
On 25 July, the Secretary of State announced that she was minded
to implement nine proposals for unitary status, including
proposals from Bedford Borough Council for a unitary authority for
their area. In that statement John Healey also announced that
other authorities in Bedfordshire would be invited to propose a
unitary solution once the Local Government and Public Involvement
in Health Act had been passed by Parliament. John Healey has since
met with local council leaders to discuss how effective unitary
local government can be established across the whole of Bedfordshire.
Notes to Editors:
1. The invitation to the three Bedfordshire councils is available
here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/unitarystructures
2. The assessment of any proposal received in response to the
invitation will be based upon the Secretary of State's
judgement of the likelihood that the outcomes set out in the
invitation will be achieved. The Secretary of State will announce
how she will proceed following receipt of the proposals.
3. A summary of responses to the Government's consultation
on unitary status proposals is also published today: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/unitarystructureresponses
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