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In a further twist to the unitary status saga, a group of district councils looks set to fight on, despite losing last week's legal battle. The group led by Congleton BC met in Bristol on Tuesday, following last week's judicial review decision by Mr Justice Underhill to throw out the case brought byShrewsbury and Atcham BC and Congleton. Shrewsbury and Atcham BC decided earlier this week not to appeal itself, but to support Congleton BC if it would carry the legal fight on further. Congleton BC's head of prosperous communities, Vivienne Quayle, said the council was meeting yesterday (Wednesday) after The MJ went to press to take a final decision about whether to appeal or not. ‘It was a very positive meeting on Tuesday,' she said. ‘The other authorities were prepared to assist with financial support.' She added that Congleton chief executive, Glyn Chambers, had instructed, under emergency powers, the local authority's legal team to ask for an expedited hearing. Cllr Clive Robson, Durham CC deputy leader, claimed the judicial review had already ‘landed local council taxpayers in Shropshire and Cheshire with a legal bill of more than £400,000'. South Bedfordshire DC leader, Norman Costin, has called on Bedfordshire CC to withdraw its plans for a judicial review into Bedford BC's unitary status. But Bedfordshire CC leader, Madeline Russell, responded: ‘Our QC has assessed the Shrewsbury judgement and came to the clear conclusion that there are no material effects on Bedfordshire CC's case.' It has also emerged that Chester City Council, one of the original sponsors of the two unitary bids in Cheshire, has not backed an additional financial report into its case by Deloitte. Chester City Council's executive recently voted that Deloitte's case should be submitted to the DCLG without any reference to the local authority's support. Said Ellesmere Port and Neston BC leader, Cllr Justin Madders: ‘While Chester City Council's executive prefers improved two-tier as providing the best solution, it has not sought to change council policy and hasengaged positively in joint working and responding to government requests and the implementation discussion paper.'

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WHITEHALL

Districts set to fight

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