Councils shortlisted for unitary status

28 March 2007

Sixteen councils bidding for unitary status have been shortlisted to go forward for consultation, local government minister, Phil Woolas, announced this week.
If implemented, the Government says the successful proposals could save up to around £200m a year which, it hopes, will be channelled into improving frontline services or used to reduce council tax bills.
Restructuring is also intended to prevent unnecessary inefficiency, confusion and duplication of services.
A spokesman for Cumbria County Council, one of 12 counties shortlisted, said the unitary argument was ‘particularly strong when looking at environmental services and highways’.
Clive Pickering, Cumbria’s corporate director for client services, added: ‘It’s understandable that the public get confused when one council collects the waste and another disposes of it, and when one council clears up wet leaves because they’re a highway safety issue and another clears up dry leaves because they’re a street-cleansing issue.
‘It makes us seem unnecessarily bureaucratic and divided.’
Recycling was a postcode lottery of different boxes, bins and bags in neighbouring districts, because many of the contracts for services such as waste collection were let independently of each other, he added.
‘A unitary council will provide consistency and clarity and one point of contact for the customer.’
The successful proposals will now be subject to a 12-week government consultation before a final decision to proceed to implementation is made in July. Subject to the parliamentary process, the Government expects those proceeding to implementation to be fully operational by April 2009.
Woolas said: ‘The bids which local authorities submitted show they are up for improving the services they offer to their communities by making them more responsive, effective and efficient.’
Exeter, Ipswich, Chester and Norwich were the only urban authorities shortlisted, while 10 councils missed out.

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Councils shortlisted for unitary status

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