District councils slam Heseltine proposals for local government reorganisation

The District Councils’ Network has slated proposals in Lord Heseltine’s review for a major increase in the number of unitary authorities.

The Tory peer presented 89 proposals aimed at creating growth, in his No stone unturned in pursuit of growth report delivered to the Chancellor of Exchequer George Osborne and the Business Secretary Vince Cable last week.

In a chapter on localism, the former deputy prime minister described the English local government system as “overly complex and inefficient” and “not suited to the demands of the 21st century and in particular our need to pursue economic growth”.

Heseltine recommended that all two-tier English local authorities outside London should pursue a path towards unitary status. "The Government should encourage this and work with authorities to clarify the process and enable it to happen," he argued.

But Cllr Neil Clarke, chairman of the District Councils Network and Conservative Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, said the Heseltine proposals were "from a bygone era".

"At a time of austerity, when efficiency must be a cornerstone of local government, his [Lord Heseltine’s] proposals are nothing but indulgent and worrying," Cllr Clarke argued. "The idea that we should stop focusing on providing vital services to our communities, to undertake a complex and needless reorganisation, at a time when we are all facing the tough realities of today’s economic climate, is quite simply extravagant. I welcome the coalition’s stance that they are not prepared to reopen this debate.”

Independent Mayor Tony Egginton of Mansfield District Council and Vice Chairman of the District Councils Network commented: “I fully supported the government bonfire of the regional quangos, and I am disappointed to see the introduction of this proposal, less than three years since their abolition. As a directly elected Mayor, I believe the government’s localism agenda can only be delivered with districts in place.”

The DCN welcomed support in the report for local enterprise partnerships, which Lord Heseltine said should enjoy a beefed-up role.

Neasa MacErlean