Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

Will the new council be ready on 1st April?
They were in Chippenham yesterday to launch the new regalia for the unitary council. A nice press call for them both, but meaningless to most residents of the county.

Mr. Healey is quoted as saying "By 1st April next year, Wiltshire Council will be well on its way to delivering the improvements that they have set out to achieve - better local services, more involved communities, stronger local leadership to help the county through these tough times, and savings of over £18m, which could be re-invested in local services or help reduce local council tax."

Has no one told the local government minister that the new council takes over on 1st April? Being 'well on the way' to delivering better local services, more involved communities etc. simply isn't good enough - the new council needs to be there by then. The Conservatives at County Hall have had a long run-up to the unitary council, but it looks as though they are going to fall short.

As for the touted £18m of savings, I hear a rumour that council tax is set to increase by 3.8% next year. Call me naive, but I presumed that the brave new world of the unitary council would see a council tax freeze for a year or two. Of course, if the Conservatives don't win the June WC election, it would be interesting to see what a coalition WC Cabinet could come up with for 2010 ...