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Plans for local government overhaul in Northamptonshire revealed | Plans for local government overhaul in Northamptonshire revealed |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Plans for a "radical" shake-up of local government in a cash-strapped county have been revealed. | Plans for a "radical" shake-up of local government in a cash-strapped county have been revealed. |
Under the proposed restructure in Northamptonshire, eight existing authorities would be replaced by two new councils. | Under the proposed restructure in Northamptonshire, eight existing authorities would be replaced by two new councils. |
A government report called for a "new start" and said crisis-hit Northamptonshire County Council should be scrapped amid a £70m cash shortfall. | A government report called for a "new start" and said crisis-hit Northamptonshire County Council should be scrapped amid a £70m cash shortfall. |
Documents say there is support for the move but warn it is not a "panacea". | Documents say there is support for the move but warn it is not a "panacea". |
Under the plans published earlier, one council would run all services in Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire, with a second covering the rest of the county. | Under the plans published earlier, one council would run all services in Daventry, Northampton and South Northamptonshire, with a second covering the rest of the county. |
Secretary of State for local government James Brokenshire ordered the existing councils to put together a bid for two unitary authorities earlier this year. | Secretary of State for local government James Brokenshire ordered the existing councils to put together a bid for two unitary authorities earlier this year. |
A new report says the proposal is being made "not out of a positive ambition for this radical structural change, but instead out of a pragmatic and responsible approach to the government's clearly-signalled direction of travel". | |
At a meeting earlier this month the county council backed a drastic action plan to reduce spending amid crippling financial circumstances. | At a meeting earlier this month the county council backed a drastic action plan to reduce spending amid crippling financial circumstances. |
Children's services, road maintenance and waste management are among the areas facing cuts, although bosses have vowed to protect vulnerable children and adults. | Children's services, road maintenance and waste management are among the areas facing cuts, although bosses have vowed to protect vulnerable children and adults. |
Analysis by Tom Barton, BBC political correspondent | Analysis by Tom Barton, BBC political correspondent |
A government report, published in March, said the problems in Northamptonshire were "so deep and ingrained" the only option was a "clean sheet, leaving all the history behind". | A government report, published in March, said the problems in Northamptonshire were "so deep and ingrained" the only option was a "clean sheet, leaving all the history behind". |
It proposed the county and district councils be abolished and replaced with two new authorities. | It proposed the county and district councils be abolished and replaced with two new authorities. |
That recommendation has now received the backing of the organisations that will be shut down as a consequence. | That recommendation has now received the backing of the organisations that will be shut down as a consequence. |
But they have warned simply changing structures will not be sufficient to fix the financial problems in the county. | But they have warned simply changing structures will not be sufficient to fix the financial problems in the county. |
Without extra government funding they say the new unitary councils will inherit "existing financial instability". | Without extra government funding they say the new unitary councils will inherit "existing financial instability". |
The unitary bid was put out to public consultation, with 6,000 responses, and found there was "widespread public support" for the overhaul, but "various degrees of support" for the two-unitary proposal. | The unitary bid was put out to public consultation, with 6,000 responses, and found there was "widespread public support" for the overhaul, but "various degrees of support" for the two-unitary proposal. |
The results of an open questionnaire showed support in what will be the north unitary, but opposition in the west. | The results of an open questionnaire showed support in what will be the north unitary, but opposition in the west. |
The report states: "In drawing together our proposal to the Secretary of State, it has become obvious that, whilst local government reorganisation can achieve a level of cost savings, it will not, in itself, lead to the creation of two new sustainable unitary local authorities. | The report states: "In drawing together our proposal to the Secretary of State, it has become obvious that, whilst local government reorganisation can achieve a level of cost savings, it will not, in itself, lead to the creation of two new sustainable unitary local authorities. |
"Indeed, it potentially risks only redistributing the existing financial instability of Northamptonshire County Council across two new organisations, unless steps are taken to address the existing cost and income challenges." | "Indeed, it potentially risks only redistributing the existing financial instability of Northamptonshire County Council across two new organisations, unless steps are taken to address the existing cost and income challenges." |
All of the separate councils will vote on the plans at meetings later this month. A bid is due to be submitted to central government on 31 August. | All of the separate councils will vote on the plans at meetings later this month. A bid is due to be submitted to central government on 31 August. |
Commissioners were sent in to oversee the county council in April after the authority revealed a projected overspend of £21m for 2017-18. | Commissioners were sent in to oversee the county council in April after the authority revealed a projected overspend of £21m for 2017-18. |
It has been forced to issue two spending control orders to stave off a projected budget shortfall of £60m-£70m this financial year. | It has been forced to issue two spending control orders to stave off a projected budget shortfall of £60m-£70m this financial year. |
What councillors say | |
Ian McCord, Conservative leader of South Northamptonshire Council: | |
"We bring these [proposals] forward with a very heavy heart and a lot of regret. | |
"I was beyond angry by the way Northamptonshire [County Council] has melted down financially. Nonetheless this [proposal] is a very pragmatic and sensible response to the government invitation. | |
"I am still minded to bring that [the proposal] to my council and make the next step, and yes we are turkeys voting for Christmas." | |
Tom Beattie, Labour leader of Corby Borough Council: | |
"If you look at the document it refers to the fact that the councils involved have not entered into this with any great enthusiasm. | |
"We have been forced into a situation that wasn't of our [Corby Borough Council's] making. | |
"As a result of that we find ourselves forced into a position of coming up with a solution that means abolishing our own councils." | |
Chris Stanbra, Liberal Democrat county councillor: | |
"We are going to get two unitaries (councils). It's not something that anyone [in local government] wanted to go into willingly. | |
"I don't know if it can work. The issue is that there are huge financial issues at the county council. | |
"If the government doesn't deal with it, then it may not work. We may be setting it up to fail." | |
What would change? | What would change? |
The current structure of local government in Northamptonshire is known as a two-tier structure. | The current structure of local government in Northamptonshire is known as a two-tier structure. |
Under the system, a county council provides the majority of public services for a given area, with responsibility for education, highways, social care and libraries. | Under the system, a county council provides the majority of public services for a given area, with responsibility for education, highways, social care and libraries. |
In two-tier areas, each county council area is subdivided into districts, for which there is an independent district council - sometimes known as borough or city councils. | In two-tier areas, each county council area is subdivided into districts, for which there is an independent district council - sometimes known as borough or city councils. |
These look after local services like rubbish collection, housing and planning applications. | These look after local services like rubbish collection, housing and planning applications. |
Unitary authorities have only one tier of local government, meaning one council is responsible for all aspects of the services provided. | Unitary authorities have only one tier of local government, meaning one council is responsible for all aspects of the services provided. |
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