Statement on local government reform
The Government plans to transfer power out of Westminster through devolution.
Devolution is about the transfer of power by a central government to local or regional administrations.
The following is a statement from Councillor Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council.
“Like all councils in two-tier areas, we have now received our statutory invitation from the Government to submit proposals for the reorganisation of local government structures in Hertfordshire.
“The Letter sets out the criteria to be considered and the timescale including initial plans to be submitted in March and full proposals later this year.
“For Stevenage, our priority remains to ensure that any changes benefit the residents and businesses in our town and to maintain our excellent local services.
“There are currently differing views on the best model for local government in Hertfordshire. However, we are committed to working together with our Hertfordshire district and borough colleagues, Hertfordshire County Council, and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner to determine how we can best achieve this goal to develop a shared evidence base to inform the options available to our county.
“This work is at an early stage and no proposals have been put forward to the Government.
“The views of residents, businesses, local government partners, our colleagues and other stakeholders across the public and private sectors will be essential to this process as it develops, and we commit to providing updates throughout.”
Background:
The Government’s invitation sets out the criteria that proposals for new unitary authorities should meet and asks for areas to submit initial plans by 21 March, and full proposals by 28 November, which the Government will then consider.
In a Written Ministerial Statement, the Local Government Minister says proposals should seek to achieve, for the whole area concerned, unitary authorities which:
- Are the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks. As a guiding principle, new councils should aim for a population of 500,000 or more. There may be certain scenarios in which this 500,000 figure does not make sense for an area, including on devolution, and this rationale should be set out in a proposal.
- Prioritise the delivery of high-quality and sustainable public services to citizens. Proposals should show how new structures will improve local government and service delivery and should avoid unnecessary fragmentation of services. Opportunities to deliver public service reform should be identified, including where they will lead to better value for money. Consideration should be given to the impact for crucial services such as social care, children's services, SEND and homelessness, and for wider public services including public safety.
- Demonstrate how local councils have sought to work together in coming to a view that best meets local needs and is informed by local views.
- Support devolution arrangements; and
- Enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment.