Uncertain future for district councils (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Uncertain future for district councils

RUMOURS are spreading like wildfire that Cotswold District Council is facing the axe along with hundreds of councils across the country.

Embryonic plans are afoot to abolish Gloucestershire's five district councils to make way for one giant or two single-tier unitary authorities.

The predicted shake-up would have a substantial impact on voting and taxation at a local level and the wisdom behind the reform has already been questioned.

On Monday (February 19) several representatives from CDC and other councils in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire will attend a crunch meeting at Shire Hall.

Minister for Communities and Local Government David Miliband is expected to brief leaders about the Government's plans, although he says no decision has yet been made.

However, Richard Kemp, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group at the Local Government Association, says officers in Gloucestershire are "actively preparing for the implementation of new local government structures in 2009".

He also claims the Government briefings are "clearly weighted towards preparing for one particular form of restructuring".

CDC Cllr Clive Bennett (Con, Water Park) says he is also concerned the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has already made up its mind on the matter.

He said: "Elected members should say no to these proposals the first opportunity they have - a consultation will only pay lip-service and won't mean anything."

However, Government officials deny any final decisions have been taken and say proper consultations are taking place.

CDC leader Cllr Julie Girling said: "We have been invited to a meeting with the minister at which we believe, following press speculation, he will be announcing his plans for local government reorganisation.

"I'm firmly of the belief that CDC delivers an excellent service at as local a level as we can to our residents - big is not always better.

"I'm yet to be convinced that unitary authorities are more efficient and believe that local government should be kept as local as possible."

GCC chief executive Peter Bungard added: "We have not taken any position on becoming a unitary authority and have received no instructions from the ODPM on this matter. We will, however, be following this debate with great interest."