Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

'Keep It Local' campaign continues.
Leaders from West Wiltshire, Crewe, Penwith, Salisbury and Durham met with MPs Andrew Murrison, Daniel Kawczynski and Ann Winterton to try to stop local councils being replaced by large, remote and all purpose unitaries. All three MPs supported the campaign to keep democracy local and promised to help fight the cause within the House of Commons.

Andrew Murrison, MP for Westbury, said: "Unitary councils organised on a county wide basis are too large. These changes to local government in Wiltshire will leave a legacy which we will have to live with for many years to come."

Lady Ann Winterton, MP for Congleton said: "I admire your perseverance on this issue, many councils would have caved in under the onslaught of plans to push through local government reorganisation."

Daniel Kawczynski, MP for Shrewsbury said: "I am passionate about Shrewsbury and its people. 18,000 (70% of voters) voted against a unitary council in Shropshire recently. I want local councillors making local decisions about Shrewsbury."

WWDC cllr. Rod Eaton agreed saying: "On top of all the legal arguments, the government has displayed a blatant lack of recognition of the strength of public opinion. A MORI poll across Wiltshire in May 2007 showed 78% of our people opposed the unitary bid, preferring an improved two-tier structure. It is grossly unfair that counties like Somerset have an opportunity to develop 'improved two tier working' whilst we in Wiltshire are being denied that option. West Wiltshire Council still firmly believes that improvements in services and closer working with partners is best achieved by local services being delivered to local people by a local council. We will fight on to 'Keep it Local'"

Independent expert, Professor Michael Chisholm of Cambridge University who was also at the meeting said: "The present process for establishing unitary councils is so deeply flawed that it has the effect of corrupting the body politic."

The Government gave the go-ahead for the creation of a new single council for the whole of Wiltshire on 25 July. This new unitary council will see the abolition of West Wiltshire, Kennet, Salisbury and North Wiltshire District Councils. Wiltshire County Council, which applied for unitary status, will take over all services in 2009, with elections to the new authority planned for May 2009.

At a special meeting of WWDC, held on 8 August 2007, the implications of the Secretary of State's decision to reorganise local government in Wiltshire were discussed. Council agreed to support Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council in their judicial review of the Secretary of State's process for the Local Government Reorganisation as well as recommending that the Cabinet pursue a separate legal action with respect to the reorganisation in Wiltshire.

The Judicial Review Court of Appeal is due to be heard on 28th January 2008, this is currently supported by 8 Councils however other authorities within Scotland and Northumberland are considering their support.

The appeal to the High Court relates to two main issues. The first is that the Secretary of State did not have the power to carry out the consultation regarding structural change and so her decisions are not lawful. Secondly that in reaching her "mindful position" she did not follow her own laid down criteria.

Winning the appeal would mean the Court agrees that these decisions were unlawful and that could lead to the whole process of consultation having to be redone. This would effectively mean that the Government could not create the new unitary authorities within the current life of Parliament. This would enable the overwhelming views of the public against structural change to be considered. It would also provide a proper opportunity for the districts and county to develop improved two-tier working.