Local Government: Future Unitary Structures

My honourable friend the Minister for Local Government (Phil Woolas) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement. On 27 March I announced, following our assessment of responses to our invitation to councils, which unitary proposals would proceed to stakeholder consultation. Sixteen proposals in 13 areas across England are currently out to consultation, after initial assessment against the Government’s strict criteria, which require that they are affordable and will provide stronger leadership, improve public services, empower local communities and have a broad cross-section of support. No decisions have been made about which proposals may be implemented. However if more are assessed as meeting the criteria than we consider are affordable under fiscal rules on the use of reserves to finance transitional costs, then the Government propose to prioritise those proposals. I also announced on March 27 that we would consult during our main stakeholder consultation on the proposed means of prioritising restructuring proposals. We are launching the consultation today, seeking the views of partners and stakeholders affected by the proposals. It is, however, open to anyone to respond to the consultation document, copies of which are available in the Libraries of both Houses. The consultation will run until 18 July.