Almost half of county councils in two-tier areas set to apply for priority devolution programme
At least nine county councils are poised to apply to the Government's "Devolution Priority Programme" for local government reorganisation.
At a series of council meetings this week members at the nine local authorities will vote on recommendations to apply to the scheme and consequently delay the upcoming May elections until next year.
This comes in response to the Government's announcement last month that it wishes to see two-tier areas replaced with unitary councils representing around 500,000 people each.
The Government's plans were set out in the English Devolution White Paper, which set a deadline of 10 January for applications to the priority programme.
The nine councils are:
- Essex County Council
- Gloucestershire County Council
- Hampshire County Council
- Kent County Council
- Norfolk County Council
- Suffolk County Council
- Surrey County Council
- Warwickshire County Council
- West Sussex County Council
In total, there are 21 county councils in England that cover two-tier areas.
Devon County Council, East Sussex County Council, and Oxfordshire County Council meanwhile have meetings scheduled to discuss local government reorganisation, but it is not yet clear what recommendations have been made.
In Devon, seven district councils and Exeter City Council came together this week to oppose a county-wide unitary authority.
In a joint statement, the councils said they wished to "make it clear" that they do not support a county-wide unitary authority, warning that a single unitary council for the county "risks diminishing local representation, with decision-making that is remote from the communities we serve".
Strong opposition to reorganisation has also been voiced in Hertfordshire, where 10 of the county's district and borough councils issued a statement to oppose a single unitary authority.
Hertfordshire County Council does not have a meeting scheduled to discuss joining the Government's priority programme.
Responding to the ten authorities, the county council said any proposals on devolution "would need to be evidence based, carefully developed, and subject to consultation before being introduced".
It added: "We have not been actively seeking changes to the structure of local government in Hertfordshire, but the Government is now clear it must be explored so it is the responsibility of all local leaders to carefully consider the options available and assess what has the best potential to benefit our residents and businesses."
Gloucestershire County Council also faces staunch opposition to its proposals, with Cheltenham Borough Council's leader, Cllr Rowena Hay, stating: "I want to be categorical that I do not support this letter or a delay in the election and I will be writing to the minster to make this clear.
"The letter talks about collaboration, yet I was not even given the courtesy of seeing it."
Cllr Hay added: "I am ambitious for Cheltenham and for Gloucestershire and I want to work with Government on the proposed White Paper, but we have to carefully consider and create genuine collaboration to come up with considered proposals for a way forward.
"I call on the Government to reject the county's unilateral plan to postpone the May elections."
Adam Carey
