The local government reorganisation battle looks set to become more bloody than ever in coming weeks. Local elections have taken a while for under-resourced district councils to get out of the way, and it is only now they can turn their attention to the job in hand – fighting for their existence. But those who breathed a sigh of relief when they discovered they were not in an area with a unitary bid may want to reconsider. Now Luton Council – already a unitary – has decided it would quite like to be bigger than its current boundaries allow. It follows in the footsteps of Nottingham City Council which has already declared an interest in ‘super-sizing' itself (see The MJ, 1 February 2007). Nottingham may have gone quiet since its original note to the secretary of state asked about its land-grab plans, but that doesn't mean it will not happen. There hasn't been a ‘no' yet from the DCLG. And, no doubt, there are quite a few other areas around the country where the prospect of expanding would be more than appealing. The good news is that the clause in the Local Government Bill, which allows the secretary of state to direct councils to become unitaries has been toned down – it's now only open until January 2008. It perhaps allows just a small window of opportunity, but not for the secretary of state to force councils into reorganisation as was once feared. Ruth Kelly – or whoever may succeed her – is unlikely to care much how councils organise themselves, as long as they are delivering on the ground. The real threat comes from inside local government. The spectre of super-sizing may face a rush in the near future – but the prospect of shifting to unitaries across the country is never going to disappear completely, until it happens. Battles in the local government family may well continue for some time. Heather Jameson, Deputy Editor, The MJ
