The genie is out In her first speech to the LGA conference, Ruth Kelly ended weeks of speculation by confirming that partial structure is on the cards, that it will be voluntary, and that it will be limited. She also gave the distinct impression that the only reason she was pursuing even this limited programme was because of pressure from a number of councils which have already been working on their unitary bids. In other words, the genie is out of the bottle. In a post-speech briefing with The MJ last week, she was asked why she did not simply rule out reorganisation altogether, just as David Cameron has. The answer was because some councils had already been ‘thinking hard’ on structure, and she wouldn’t ‘stand in their way.’ However, we know ministers, and especially Number 10, are keen to see some new unitaries rolled out. They are equally keen that any change means savings and better services – indeed, their support for more unitaries is only because they believe fewer and larger councils will mean lower overheads. Ms Kelly is keeping her powder dry on the detail by saying the ‘criteria’ for granting unitary status will be in the October White Paper. And the earlier idea that unitaries would only be created if there was unanimous agreement by all councils in a particular county area – meaning restructuring would never happen – has now been replaced by the need for ‘a broad cross-section of support.’ This, of course, could mean anything, and gives the DCLG a wide brief to decide which areas should proceed. The partial reorganisation poses a dilemma for Conservatives. Nationally, they are against it, and David Cameron nailed his colours firmly to the mast last week at the LGA when he said it was ‘a waste of time.’ However, many local Tories are in favour, especially at county level, and they have been ‘advised’ by Central Office to desist. Eric Pickles, in The MJ this week (p1), said it was a ‘ridiculous idea’ that the party would discipline them but structure, nonetheless, threatens to open a fissure between national and local Tories and indeed between district and county Tories. David Cameron may yet rue the day he came out so unequivocally against reorganisation when many of his own shire supporters harbour unitary ambitions.
