Title

John Healey this week shrugged off fears over the timetable for local government reorganisation and hailed it as a ‘once in a generation chance'. His comments came after he met all the leaders of the nine new unitary authorities for the first time on Tuesday, even though boundary disputes continue to dog three other county areas earmarked for unitary status. Speaking to The MJ after the meeting, Mr Healey said: ‘Whatever the range of views about unitaries during the process of them being decided, there is now a really strong determination to get them up and running.' Mr Healey said the main concerns were ensuring there was no drop in service standards during the transition, retaining staff and avoiding any possible delays caused by the Boundary Committee's review of wards and councillors. The minister said the Government would work with the councils to draw up regulations to handle the transfer of assets and financial arrangements. He also said he had encouraged the Boundary Committee to do its work in time for the new authorities. ‘The leaders of these nine new councils have a once in a generation chance to shape the future of their communities for years to come,' said Mr Healey. But there are still concerns about this process and Tory councillors and MPs in Norfolk held an action day this week against unitary reorganisation. Conservative associations across the county were out in force on Saturday, protesting at the possibility of unitary local government in the area. The Boundary Committee is currently looking at a variety of plans to reorganise local government in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk. ‘A move to one-size-fits-all unitary authorities would be a centralising measure, taking local government further away from the people it is supposed to represent,' said south-west Norfolk MP Christopher Fraser. The Boundary Committee has started a fresh consultation on how many councillors should sit on the new Cornwall unitary. The consultation will run for six weeks and will close on 18 July. The senior management team who will lead the transition to a unitary authority in Wiltshire is taking shape with the news of two further appointments. The appointment sub committee of Wiltshire's implementation executive has announced it intends to offer corporate director posts to Kennet DC chief executive Mark Boden and county council director of environment services George Batten. The sub committee is expected to confirm these appointments later this month after staffing regulations are implemented.

Title

WHITEHALL

Healey brushes off unitary roll out fear

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING