Council responds to newest Local Government Reorganisation proposal – Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council

Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, was responding after Staffordshire County Council introduced its most popular choice to nationwide Government’s name for the compelled reorganisation of Local Government.

The county authority is proposing dividing Staffordshire into two areas:

• ‘West’ comprising Newcastle-under Lyme, Stafford, Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire;
• ‘East’ comprising Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Moorlands, East Staffordshire, Tamworth and Lichfield.

The proposal to create a ‘west’ authority was first steered in a spread of choices put ahead by the Borough Council for additional investigation six months in the past.

The Borough Council is towards the Government’s compelled reorganisation.  Cllr Tagg mentioned:

Councils in Staffordshire are already working properly collectively for his or her communities underneath the present system – and now we have simply discovered that the Government hasn’t correctly labored out the actual prices of this compelled reorganisation.

 

I nonetheless see no convincing argument that this alteration would imply cheaper, higher companies for residents, or present extra accountability for taxpayers.

 

With Angela Rayner’s resignation and the sacking of the Local Government ministerial workforce the architects of this plan are gone, the Government is in turmoil and it’s time for it to suppose once more about compelled reorganisation.”

While arguing that the two-tier system in Staffordshire works properly, if councils are nonetheless compelled to change into unitary authorities, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council agreed its choices for investigation in March.

As properly as contemplating a single authority on the present Newcastle administrative boundaries, or a merger with the Staffordshire Moorlands, the Borough Council additionally agreed to research a ‘West Staffordshire’ authority broadly primarily based on the M6 hall.

Simon Tagg added:

The ‘West Staffordshire’ choice is one which this council has already agreed to discover if we’re compelled to vary, so we recognise the chances of Staffordshire County Council’s proposal.

 

However, additional work will probably be wanted to indicate how any new council offering all of the companies in an space of this dimension might stay native and aware of its residents.”

The Borough Council is firmly against the creation of a North Staffordshire Authority, which might see Newcastle-under-Lyme joined with Stoke-on-Trent and the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Despite its continued opposition to compelled reorganisation, the Borough Council helps the creation of a Strategic Authority protecting the entire of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

Simon Tagg mentioned:

There are two separate points right here. We suppose the creation of a Strategic Authority transport, funding and infrastructure for the entire area has advantage, as a result of it has potential to carry powers and funding from London.

 

Clearly the case for the Strategic Authority to have an Elected Mayor has not been made, and given experiences of elected mayors regionally, wouldn’t be seen as a crucial or optimistic step.

 

However, Strategic Authorities won’t be chargeable for delivering day-to-day companies equivalent to amassing the bins and at an area degree there isn’t a demand – and no convincing argument – to tear up the prevailing system of native authorities in favour of giving residents one thing lower than they have already got.”

Consultation continues on proposed reorganisation. More at Local Government Reorganisation .