Local Government Minister’s session at DCN Conference: CCN responds

Today the Local Government Minister Jim McMahon spoke at the District Councils Network’s conference, delivering a speech and taking part in a Q&A.

Below, the County Councils Network responds to his session.

Cllr Tim Oliver, Chairman of the County Councils Network, said:

“The government’s Devolution White Paper and subsequent statutory guidance issued to councils last month made it clear that proposals for new unitary councils should create local authorities that cover 500,000 people or more unless in exceptional circumstances. This is the scale by which the government said would enable any new councils to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand future financial shocks.

 “Our recent analysis, built on new data from PwC, is clear evidence that shows that creating unitary authorities covering 500,000 or more people can deliver at least £1.8bn in savings and will be simpler for residents and business. Unitarisation on this scale creates sustainable councils that enable areas to reset their relationships with their cities, towns and villages –  empowering them in the process.

“Conversely, the evidence shows that creating councils that cover populations between 300,000 and 400,000 people could cost hundreds of millions in the short term, would make no savings, and would likely destabilise vital services for vulnerable elderly and younger people.

 “It is absolutely essential that the government stick to the statutory criteria it has already set out, treating the 500,000 as a minimum rather than an optimum population scale. Any decisions made on new unitary councils need to be made using sound evidence to create councils that work better for local residents, not as an act of political expediency.”