Consultations launched on reorganisation proposals: CCN responds

Today the government has launched public consultations on reorganisation proposals in the devolution priority areas.

You can read the government's ministerial statement here.

Below, the County Councils Network responds.

Cllr Matthew Hicks, County Councils Network Chairman said:

“The launch of the consultation period for the six areas within the devolution priority programme is another important milestone in the government’s reorganisation agenda. With these consultations affecting the services delivered to millions of people, we urge all stakeholders and local residents to engage.

“County councils have worked hard to put forward positive proposals that will improve services and deliver fewer, leaner councils, in line with the started criteria that new councils should have a population above 500,000 and minimise the fragmentation of vital care services. These are underpinned by robust evidence that demonstrates new councils will be able deliver savings to reinvest in frontline services, safeguard care to the most vulnerable and foster the economic growth this country desperately needs.

“Critically, stakeholders – and the government - must use this period to closely scrutinise and rigorously evaluate all proposals against their statutory criteria. CCN remains concerned that some of the proposals put out to consultation propose unprecedented boundary changes that will alter the landscape of our historic counties and risk splitting high performing care services into smaller councils well below the government’s stated criteria, while promising hundreds of millions of in savings to adult and children’s services with little supporting evidence.

“Building on our experience of working through dozens of reorganisation programmes over the last two decades, the County Councils Network will continue to support its member councils’. This will include engaging the government over their timescales for implementation this parliament, recognising the views of all our member councils.”