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Confusion reigns over the new Exeter and Norwich unitaries, following reports that the new communities secretary, Eric Pickles, is going to scrap the new authorities. The implementation executives for both new authorities have expressed outrage after rumours that Mr Pickles had told civil servants he was planning to repeal the parliamentary orders which created them. ‘This is a complete outrage,' said the vice chair of Exeter's implementation executive, Cllr Pete Edwards. ‘Parliament backed a unity. Now a man only in the job for two days, who will have had no time to study the benefits of an Exeter unitary offers residents, is prepared to unpick more than four years' work and retain the clearly-broken two-tier system.' But a CLG spokesman said that while it ‘was a key area' for Mr Pickles, nothing had been decided yet. ‘While I am extremely heartened and encouraged to have read Mr Pickles' reported comments, everyone involved in local government in Norfolk now needs an early and clear guide from the CLG on what happens next,' said Norfolk CC leader, Cllr Daniel Cox. Last week, Devon CC called on the new government to pull the plug on a unitary authority for Exeter. Council leader, Cllr John Hart, wrote to the prime minister, David Cameron, to remind him on his election promise to scrap the planned unitary council. Mr Cameron had said he would axe plans for new unitaries in Norwich and Exeter if he won the general election. The Norwich unitary council's implementation executive has agreed the salary packages for the chief executive and directors of the new authority. A salary of between £125,000 and £140,000 will be offered for the role of chief executive. The top posts will be advertised shortly.

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WHITEHALL

Executives 'outraged' over unitary confusion

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