Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

The new unitary authority moves on another step.
The Government has issued the following press release :-

New unitary councils in Cornwall, County Durham, Northumberland, Shropshire and Wiltshire have now received Parliamentary approval. The new-style unitary councils will pioneer new ways to empower local communities, to radically improve services, and to promote prosperity across these five counties.

COMMENT - If the new council manages any of these 'aims' I will be surprised.

Once up and running the new councils will in total save over £75m each year that can be directly invested into improving frontline services or used to reduce council tax bill pressures for 2.1 million people. The number of councils in these areas will be reduced from 33 to just five.

COMMENT - The leader of WCC is already talking about 'a fair crack of the (central government) funding whip' being needed by the new authority. Expect a 4% council tax increase next year with more of the same to follow.

All councils will be fully established from 1 April 2009. Elections to the new councils will take place in May this year in Northumberland and County Durham, and May next year in Shropshire, Wiltshire and Cornwall.

COMMENT - Is this democracy? The new council will be established before it has any councillors! Who will be running this authority? Officers or councillors?

In each area all the councils and their partners now need to work together effectively and constructively to achieve the transformational change, and to fully realise the benefits - economic, social and environmental - for local people.

COMMENT - I'm sure that everybody will pull together for the best result for Wiltshire residents, but will it work? I hope that people will remember the un-democratic way that this change has been forced through by a handful of Conservative councillors (and a Lib Dem or two) at County Hall.