DCN RESPONDS TO GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT ON BUCKINGHAMSHIRE SINGLE UNITARY PLAN

Responding to today’s announcement by Housing and Communities Secretary Sajid Javid that he is “minded to” approve a proposal to create a single unitary council in Buckinghamshire, Cllr John Fuller, Chairman of the District Councils’ Network, said:

“This ‘minded to’ decision would appear inconsistent with the principles adopted by the Secretary of State in relation to the unitary proposals in Dorset, where there was broad agreement and substantial consensus for the new proposals from district, county and unitary authorities, which will result in two new unitary authorities of equal size.

“Since reorganisation proposals were invited, many things have changed in local government, not least in neighbouring Northamptonshire, and the prospect of a forthcoming social care green paper coming in the summer.

“It must be remembered that there were two different visions for the future of local government in Buckinghamshire and if the new proposals are to go ahead then full consensus must be reached during the consultation period.”