Coun Brian Essex

Conservative group leader

LET me start the debate on whether there is a need to have just one council for East Lancashire.

Back in March the Labour leader of the Council signed a letter together with the Labour leaders of Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley and the Conservative leader of Pendle asking the Government if a Pennine Lancashire Unitary Authority could be established.

There was no consultation with councillors or residents in Rossendale and there still has not.

I am reminded about the consultation on parking in Rawtenstall that has also never happened.

I object strongly that the leader has not laid her plans for Rossendale for everybody to consider.

There is a continuing air of a lack of transparency in the working of the council.

I totally agree the structure of local government should be reformed to establish co-operation and professional co-ordination to produce better services and the best value for money.

The present system of two-tier local government in the large counties was established in the 1880s to overcome the huge distances between towns in delivering services. Nationally many of the smaller counties have been reformed as unitary councils – that’s one council for all services for example County Durham, Northumberland, Wiltshire, Cornwall to name but a few.

However, there has always been widespread support locally for these re-organisations.

Since March, the Labour leader of Hyndburn is opposed to the unitary on the grounds of the huge levels of debt in such councils as Blackburn and Burnley, the Conservatives have lost control of Pendle and the new Liberal/ Labour council are now also opposed.

Labour in Burnley have lost control of the council and are now in opposition. Ribble Valley Council wants nothing to do the proposal either.

Re-organisation is not now quite as straight forward as before the elections.

Police, fire and rescue, waste disposal and transport are governed by separate public bodies.

Naturally the close relationship between elected councillors and their ward can no longer be continued in such a large unitary authority where they may be between 80 and 100 councillors elected in much larger wards.

Rossendale has little in common with the rest of East Lancashire – economically, transport links and the fact that the majority of working residents rely on jobs to the south of the borough.

Economically and geographically we are part of the Greater Manchester economic region – currently the most dynamic in the UK. It continues to be disappointing that we have not applied for associated member status.

There are alternative arrangements that should be examined – I name just a few for debate – amalgamation with Hyndburn, combine services with another authority and keep separate local democracy, disaggregate Rossendale from the county council and amalgamate with Bury and or Rochdale – remain the same is not an option.

There are many examples of successful local government – the council needs to open a dialogue – and become a Listening Council - no more decisions behind closed doors.

This turkey will vote for Christmas if the change will produce better services for Rossendale residents!