Council leader SLAMS government U-turn on LGR

“Today’s government U-turn on reorganising local councils in Warwickshire has destroyed confidence in the whole process,” says Susan Juned, Liberal Democrat Leader of Stratford-on- Avon District Council (SDC). “This embarrassing and chaotic climbdown has already wasted huge sums of money and has serious implications for the services provided to the residents of Stratford District.” 

Referring to today’s announcement in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State, Angela Rayner, she insisted: “We have already invested money, time and effort in preparing for the creation of a unitary South Warwickshire Council and we’ve now been told that all of that investment may have been wasted. Just saying the whole process is being deferred, with no firm plans being put forward, is the worst possible outcome. We need to know for how long Warwickshire’s councils will continue to serve their residents.”

Cllr Juned added that SDC would be calling on the government to reimburse the costs it has already incurred and to clarify the length of the government’s review. “Just saying the whole process is being deferred – with no firm plans being put forward as to how long local councils will continue to serve their residents – is the worst possible outcome. We need to know when the Secretary of State expects to make a final decision.”

Local councils have already spent considerable sums commissioning reports on reorganising local government in Warwickshire and have started spending money on plans for complying with the government’s wishes. Staff morale has also been affected by the changes promised by the government.

“Today’s decision takes us into an unwanted world of deep uncertainty. It is the last thing any government should be doing, especially with so many other pressures already bearing down, not only on the country, but also on our residents,” said Cllr Juned.

“Two unitary councils for Warwickshire – with Stratford served by a South Warwickshire Council – was our preferred option under the government’s reorganisation plans and that remains the case,” she added.