Prioritisation Plan for Unitary Bids

Plans to ensure that local government re-structuring will cut council tax and deliver the maximum service improvements for local communities under sound fiscal rules have been published today (7 June) by Local Government Minister Phil Woolas.

Sixteen proposals in thirteen areas across England are currently out to consultation, after initial assessment against the Government’s strict criteria which require that they are affordable and will provide stronger leadership, improve public services, empower local communities and have a broad cross section of support.

No decisions have been made about which of these proposals may be implemented. But if more are assessed as meeting the criteria than are affordable under rules on the use of reserves to finance transitional costs, then the Government proposes to prioritise those proposals.

Phil Woolas said: “Re-structuring has the potential to make a real difference to local communities and cut council tax. But if there are more proposals that meet the criteria following consultation, than can be afforded under sound fiscal rules, then we must ensure that the proposals that go forward are the most cost-effective and deliver the greatest improvement in services.

“That is why we are publishing a consultation on the means for proritising proposals today and asking stakeholders for their views.”

The consultation on prioritisation will run untill 18 July 2007. Following the consultation on the proposals which ends on 22 June 2007, the Government intends to make decisions on which proposals will proceed to implementation.