Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Joint submission made to Westminster.
West Wiltshire District Council has finalised its opposition to a unitary authority for the whole of Wiltshire. As well as the district council objections, all five town councils in West Wiltshire are against the county council's proposals for a unitary authority. Many of the district's parish councils are also opposing the bid, together with the local MPs Andrew Murrison and Michael Ancram.

The Government's consultation on unitary status for Wiltshire closed last Friday (22 June). It is expected that a decision will be made in late July on which of the 16 bids made nationally will go forward for implementation.

Andrew Pate, chief executive of West Wiltshire District Council, said: "We have worked with our colleagues in Kennet and Salisbury to produce two documents in response to the consultation, and these were delivered to the Secretary of State last week. We have critiqued the county council's case, and we have also developed 'the right way forward for local government in Wiltshire'.

"These documents show how we can work together more efficiently, and make significant savings, without the disruption and expense of creating one huge new council. We are already achieving a great deal through working in partnership, and we can build on these successes to provide even greater value for money in our services. A unitary council offers nothing more than upheaval, expense and centralisation."

The critique document is based on the five criteria identified by the Government as central to the unitary case:

- Affordability

- Cross-section of support

- Strategic leadership

- Neighbourhood empowerment

- Value for money service delivery

Mr Pate said: "We have shown that the county council's financial case is riddled with overstatements of savings and understatements of costs. This is to the extent that creating a unitary authority could cost closer to £38 million than the £18 million they claim. We also know that there is no cross-section of support for a unitary council."

Both the critique document and 'Your voice, your future - the right way forward for local government in Wiltshire' are now available to view on the District Council's website at unitary news

Graham Payne, Leader of the Council, said the unitary bid had caused an unwelcome distraction over recent months. "It frustrates me that so much time and effort has been expended on something that no-one has asked for and very few people actually want. We have a MORI poll that shows the vast majority of local residents have no appetite for this change. We have all of our town councils objecting to a unitary council. We have the backing of three Wiltshire MPs. Not one district council in Wiltshire is in support of the idea. Even countywide agencies such as the police and fire authorities have taken a neutral stance. I trust that the Secretary of State will take heed of this overwhelming voice against a unitary Wiltshire and reject the bid."