Government must come clean over council reorganisation chaos, say Lib Dems

The Government has today confirmed what Liberal Democrats have warned for months: its top-down approach to local government reorganisation has been left on increasingly shaky ground, while councils across the country have already spent millions of pounds preparing for changes that may now be delayed or fundamentally altered.

Here in Worcestershire, councils have committed significant time, money and resources to preparing for the proposed reorganisation, with officers working on the assumption that the existing two-tier system would be replaced by new unitary authorities. Staff have also made major professional and personal decisions based on announcements about the future structure of local government.

Now the process has been thrown into limbo, with elections to councils that many believed would soon be abolished now set to go ahead next May.

The uncertainty is particularly damaging for councils already facing severe financial pressures. A number of authorities have been relying on the prospect of reorganisation as part of their plans to address serious financial difficulties, only to be left without any clear indication of what happens next.

Worcester Liberal Democrats say ministers must now urgently provide clarity to councils, staff and residents who have been left dealing with the consequences of a process that has lacked certainty from the outset.

Angela Rayner must urgently set out what happens next for communities left in limbo and provide a cast-iron guarantee that residents will be given a clear and transparent timetable for any future changes. Ministers must also make clear whether this represents simply a pause in the process, or whether plans for new unitary authorities are now being shelved altogether.

Cllr Mel Allcott, Cabinet Member Responsible for Adult Social Care, said “I am dismayed at how much time and money this seemingly failed initiative has already cost councils across the county. At a time when local authorities are already under enormous financial pressure, every pound spent preparing for a reorganisation that may now not happen is money that could otherwise have been spent supporting our communities and delivering vital services.'

‘What is particularly frustrating is the uncertainty this has created for council staff, councillors and residents. People have been asked to plan for a completely different system of local government, and staff have had to consider what that means for their jobs and their futures. Now we are potentially facing elections to councils that were expected to disappear, without any clear idea of what the Government intends to do next.’

'This cannot be how local government reform is supposed to work. If ministers are going to change direction, they need to be honest with councils and residents about it. They must explain what has happened, what the additional costs will be and, most importantly, provide a clear timetable so that everyone knows where they stand. Communities deserve much better than being left in limbo while ministers decide what to do next.”