Reorganisation
Councils told to end merger speculation
Two councils have been urged to ‘move on’ from merger proposals that have failed to get off the ground after a decade of sharing officers.
Keeping that personal touch
it’s possible with foresight to design the councils of the future in a way that can adapt to rapidly changing demands without losing that personal touch where it is needed most, says Lawrence Conway.
North Yorkshire unitary to inherit ‘frightening’ deficit
North Yorkshire’s new unitary council could inherit a budget deficit of £50m, it has been revealed.
Merger plans axed after Stratford-on-Avon concerns
Plans to merge Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick DCs will not go ahead after the former got cold feet.
EXCLUSIVE: Porter warning over fresh reorganisation push
Some district councils may seek unitary status to ensure they can influence the new wave of combined authorities, a senior Conservative councillor has warned.
Two years of one voice for Bucks
The logistics haven’t always been easy, but becoming a single unitary authority two years ago has given Buckinghamshire Council greater power and influence and has delivered clear improvements, says leader Cllr Martin Tett.
Reorganisation is about transformation not just reform
Many of the core principles of South Lakeland DC's transformation programme will be evident in the new authorities of Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness, says Lawrence Conway.
Cumbria faces £80k legal bill
The council took action against the Government over its decision to create two unitary authorities in the county.
Clark: Reorganisation opportunity has come and gone
The opportunity for wholescale local government reorganisation has come and gone thanks to Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ‘political headwinds,’ former local government secretary Greg Clark has said.
Cumbria drops legal challenge to reorganisation
Cumbria CC has decided to drop its legal challenge after losing its second High Court bid for a judicial review of local government reorganisation.
Cumbria loses second bid to stop reorganisation
Cumbria CC is ‘considering its next steps’ after losing its second High Court bid for a judicial review of the decision to create two unitary authorities.
Devolution evolution is welcome but questions remain about structures
Sian Ballingall welcomes the devolution evolution theme in the Levelling Up White Paper, but wonders if failure to mandate local government reorganisation could be a missed opportunity.
We all need a steady and clear programme for the unitary journey
South Lakeland DC will be abolished and its functions transferred to one of Cumbria's two new unitary authorities. Lawrence Conway says 'great progress can be make when we all put our heads and hearts together'.
Cumbria continues legal battle against reorganisation
The county council is opposed to the Government’s decision to replace the county council and six district councils with two unitaries.
Councils in £1.7m ‘amicable separation’
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council has asked neighbouring Dorset for £1.7m to leave a joint services partnership.
Councils turn to reorganisation after ‘running out of ideas’
Local government minister Kemi Badenoch has questioned the reasoning behind some authorities’ reorganisation bids.
Take note of the Snooty Fox
In the light of the legal case of the Snooty Fox, Andy Sawford urges that local government areas going through reorganisation carry out an audit of skeletons in the cupboard.
MP opposes 'undemocratic' council merger
The proposed merger of two district councils has been labelled ‘undemocratic’ by a local MP.
Not top-down reform – but beware the bottom-up push
While we have ruled out top-down reorganisation of local government, the prospect of forcing bottom-up reform remains, says Heather Jameson.
The Government should push on fast with reorganisation
Anyone looking at bold plans for the future should bite the bullet on reorganisation and get it done fast, advises global chief executive of Ipsos Ben Page.