Unitary
Buckinghamshire faces ticking clock to get unitary over the line
Buckinghamshire’s planned unitary council faces a tight schedule to get up and running as it faces continuing opposition from the districts.
Cabinet minister calls for rural devolution
Liz Truss has called for rural counties to get the same devolved powers as metro mayors.
Northamptonshire reorganisation 'driven by politicians' - Lord Porter
The proposed unitarisation of Northamptonshire has been questioned by Local Government Association (LGA) chair, Lord Porter.
Nottinghamshire CC abandons reorganisation plan
Nottinghamshire CC has dropped its reorganisation plans, which the leadership had hoped would save the authority millions of pounds each year.
EXCLUSIVE: The Bucks stops here
Local government secretary James Brokenshire will only invite new unitary proposals in the case of another Northamptonshire CC-type collapse, The MJ understands.
Brokenshire: 2019 will be turning point for local government
Next year will be a ‘turning point’ for local government, communities secretary James Brokenshire has told the County Councils’ Network conference, with the Spending Review and changes to the finance regime.
Bucks shake-up last of its kind
The scrapping of Buckinghamshire’s councils in favour of a single county-wide unitary is likely to be the last local government reorganisation decision of its kind, The MJ understands.
Legal challenge to reorganisation remains an option
South Buckinghamshire DC’s leader has resisted pressure to drop the threat of a legal challenge to the Government’s decision to back a single county unitary.
Single Bucks council gets the go-ahead
Buckinghamshire’s five councils are to be scrapped in favour of a single county-wide unitary, communities secretary James Brokenshire has announced.
Torbay to consult on town council proposals
Members in Torbay have narrowly voted to go ahead with a review that could see new town councils created across the area.
Pared-down senior management would deliver 'significant savings'
A single senior management team for a new Nottinghamshire unitary would deliver ‘significant savings’ and improve service quality, the county council’s leader has claimed.
Councils resist peer challenge offer
The Local Government Association (LGA) is facing resistance as it struggles to persuade reluctant councils to undergo a corporate peer challenge.
Peace offerings in wake of reorganisation divisions
Olive branches have been offered up in two areas where relationships have been strained by local government reorganisation.
Christchurch reorganisation challenge defeated
Christchurch BC may launch an appeal after a High Court judge today refused its challenge to local government reorganisation plans.
Oxfordshire leader stands by unitarisation despite ministerial pause
Oxfordshire CC’s leader has vowed to keep his unitary proposals on the back-burner after local government minister Rishi Sunak backed a pause in reorganisation plans.
Leicestershire districts unite over reorganisation
District and borough councils in Leicestershire have offered the county council an olive branch over the issue of reorganisation.
Districts push back against county unitary plans
Districts have pushed back against county council plans for local government reorganisation.
Nottinghamshire leader steps up unitary push
Nottinghamshire CC’s leader has stepped up her push for a unitary council to cover the county.
Panel argues the future may not be unitary
Unitary councils may not be the future of local government, according to a panel discussion held by the Taxpayers' Alliance.
Financial pressures could turn unitary to district
A unitary council is considering reverting back to district status in a bid to avert a financial crisis.