The Government has sensationally extended the unitary consultation period, amid claims the whole process is in tatters. Local government minister Phil Woolas announced last week that there will be an additional consultation period to draw up a ‘prioritisation' plan, which will run until 18 July. The plan will allow the Government to prioritise the bids currently out to consultation, prompting fears that fewer councils than originally thought will be given unitary status. The MJ reported last month (31 May) that the chief secretary to the Treasury, Stephen Timms, had asked secretary of state Ruth Kelly to cut the number of bids. Last year Ms Kelly said there would be around eight unitary authorities, but 16 made it on to the shortlist in March. The consultation period for the bids will end on 22 June. ‘If there are more proposals that meet the criteria following consultation, than can be afforded under sound fiscal rules, then we must ensure that the proposals that go forward are the most cost-effective and deliver the greatest improvement in services,' said Mr Woolas. A DCLG spokesman said ministers are still expecting to make an announcement about which bids are successful next month and it was too early to speculate about different priority lists of councils. ‘It indicates to me that the Treasury are back on top of this process,' said Devon CC leader Brian Greenslade. ‘The prioritisation will sort out the strong runners from the weak runners.' Wiltshire CC chief executive Keith Robinson said he did not expect the consultation to delay the final decision and welcomed the explanation of some of the DCLG's criteria in the new prioritisation document. Meanwhile, Shrewsbury and Atcham BC's legal bid to halt the unitary process goes to the High Court for its first hearing on Monday (June 18). Chief executive Robin Hooper said he expects the judicial review to be successful and the whole unitary process to be ‘quashed'. ‘On that basis, I do see the new consultation paper as something which will not be necessary,' he said. A poll of residents in Cornwall by Caradon, Carrick, Kerrier and Penwith DCs found 81% were against a single authority.
