A glimpse of possibility
From Strong and Prosperous Communities, the local government white paper published by DCLG today:
The way councils best govern themselves will be different in different parts of the country. [...] We also recognise the potential gains which unitary status can offer, in terms of leadership and efficiency. Councils in shire areas will be able to seek unitary status; we have published information on how to submit proposals and how we intend to handle the small number of proposals conforming with the criteria which we expect to receive.
(Why I think having one council for Oxford would be a good idea here; also mentioned here and here)
The actual proposals (in the Invitations to councils in England document) have rather scuppered any proposals for small unitaries - you have to pay out of revenue to work up the bid, you have to pay for the audit commission work inspecting the bid, your restructuring has to be self-financing out of revenue, the payback period has to be at most five years, and you’re not allowed to change your boundaries unless you merge wholesale with another district. And if you’re making a sub-county bid, your bid has to include proposals for what will happen in the rest of the county.
The trouble with these local govenment reforms is they do not go far enough. It looks like Whitehall has given in to pressure from councillors to water down these proposed reforms.
Which sounds like the poor down trodden consumer citizen’s interests will be ignored again. That means English standards in local govenment efficiancy, probity, accountability and delivery will remain below the European average.
“English standards in local govenment efficiancy, probity, accountability and delivery will remain below the European average.”
You think English standards of local government Probity are below the European average? Is this an amusing joke I don’t get?