Majority of chiefs back unitary bids

LGC survey of chiefs

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Over half of county council chief executives would support bids to set up unitary authorities, an LGC survey has revealed.

The survey of county chiefs uncovered dissatisfaction with the existing two-tier local government system and a widespread expectation of a further round of reorganisation within 10 years.

With the government admitting there could be more "targeted" invitations to restructure, the county chiefs also called on ministers to clarify their intentions for two-tier areas.

LGC sent its survey on local government reorganisation to the chiefs of all 24 counties which still have two-tier local government and are not currently affected by restructuring plans.

See the details here

Of the 18 chiefs that replied, on an anonymous basis, 13 said they would be in favour of bidding to become a unitary if the government gave the go-ahead to a fresh round of reorganisation.

Meanwhile, 14 respondents said they expected a further round of restructuring — with more than half of them predicting it would come within the next five years — while 12 believed the government should reveal its preferred model for existing two-tier areas.

"The sub-division of the county is damaging in terms of economic identity. A county unitary would bring economies of scale and cause less public confusion," one respondent wrote.

"All two-tier areas should be eradicated — the government should compel, not invite, bids," said another.

However, Alan Goodrum, chief executive of Chiltern DC and chair of the District Council Chief Executives Sounding Board, accused his county colleagues of indulging in "wishful thinking".

Speculation the government was preparing a fresh round of reorganisation was heightened last month when junior local government minister Parmjit Dhanda told a local radio interviewer in his Gloucester constituency that £16m could be saved by splitting Gloucestershire into two unitaries (LGC, 17 July).

A Department for Communities & Local Government spokeswoman said the government had "no plans" for further reorganisation, but there might be targeted invitations to certain authorities.

"All areas, whether unitary or two-tier, should be striving to achieve the maximum efficiencies, improve service delivery, empower local communities and provide the coherent strategic leadership that places need if they are to prosper," she added.

Tim Palmer (Con), chairman of the County Councils Network, said: "The government's current piecemeal approach [to reorganisation] has been roundly discredited. It would be better to devolve power to local government".