Consultations launched on local government reorganisation in three counties

This week a consultation period has been launched on proposals to reorganise local authorities in Somerset, Cumbria, and North Yorkshire.

Councils in those areas had been invited to submit proposals for reorganisation, and now the government is seeking views on them before the Secretary of State for Local Government Robert Jenrick makes a judgement on the proposals.

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Simon Edwards, director of the County Councils Network, said:

“The beginning of consultations on the future model for councils in Cumbria, Somerset, and North Yorkshire are once-in-a-generation opportunity to enact long-lasting change to local authorities in those areas: so it is imperative that the right decision is made.

“It is important that the consultation contains an evidence based discussion. The aim should be to take both the best of the current district councils and county councils in those areas to improve local services for residents and to deliver real devolution to these counties.

“Independent research published by the County Councils Network points in the direction of a single county unitary, which has public, business, and political support in each location. This model creates the best platform to transform services and to generate the highest level of savings, while providing the most effective platform to drive economic growth and the levelling up agenda.”