Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Healey invites Bedforshire restructuring proposals
Local Government Minister John Healey has invited three Bedfordshire councils to submit proposals for unitary status.
Bedfordshire County Council, Mid-Bedfordshire District Council and South Bedfordshire District Council have been asked to draw up their proposals following the decision that the Government is minded to implement proposals for a unitary authority for Bedford Borough Council.
Any new proposals must demonstrate how restructuring will deliver strong, effective and accountable strategic leadership, genuine opportunities for neighbourhood flexibility and empowerment; and value for money and equity on public services. They must also demonstrate how the change to the future unitary structure will be affordable and supported by a broad cross section of partners and stakeholders.
Confirming that the Government remains minded to implement Bedford Borough's unitary proposal John Healey said:
"Re-structuring will create flagship councils leading the way on promoting prosperity, empowering communities, and improving services. Councils tell us that the changes we are minded to implement will save £150m per year to be directly transferred into improving services or reducing council tax bills.
"The remaining area of Bedfordshire needs unitary local government to complement any unitary Bedford Council, and through this invitation we will ensure that the whole of Bedfordshire benefits from this opportunity."
The deadline for the new proposals is 17 December 2007. Ministers will take final decisions on which proposals to implement across the country shortly.
On 25 July, the Secretary of State announced that she was minded to implement nine proposals for unitary status, including proposals from Bedford Borough Council for a unitary authority for their area. In that statement John Healey also announced that other authorities in Bedfordshire would be invited to propose a unitary solution once the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act had been passed by Parliament. John Healey has since met with local council leaders to discuss how effective unitary local government can be established across the whole of Bedfordshire.
Notes to Editors:
1. The invitation to the three Bedfordshire councils is available here: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/unitarystructures
2. The assessment of any proposal received in response to the invitation will be based upon the Secretary of State's judgement of the likelihood that the outcomes set out in the invitation will be achieved. The Secretary of State will announce how she will proceed following receipt of the proposals.
3. A summary of responses to the Government's consultation on unitary status proposals is also published today: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/unitarystructureresponses
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