Time to review state of local governments

Jill Wells,

THE coronavirus crisis has been and continues to be traumatic for individuals, families, communities and countries across the world. It is hard to think of little else when coronavirus so dominates our lives. Yet the Government has chosen this time to force far-reaching changes in vital local services for which there is no popular demand.

Thirsk and Malton Labour Party is opposed to the piecemeal, haphazard reorganisation of local government. The pattern of local government across England is now a complete mess. Unitary councils range in size from Rutland with 38,000 people to Birmingham with more than a million. Cambridgeshire with a population around 650,000 has an elected mayor, a combined authority, a county council, a unitary council and five district councils. Northamptonshire with about 100,000 more people is to be governed by just two unitary councils. The various combined authorities have varying powers and responsibilities. Citizens should not have to use search engines and exhaustive research to find out who is responsible for what.

What is the Government’s view on this nationwide hotch potch? No one knows – it promised to publish its views in a White Paper that has been delayed time and time again.

Funding has a major impact on quality and performance of local government. For every £1 of national financial support for local services in 2015 there was just 23p in 2020.

We are not opposed to change – a system designed half a century ago and tinkered with by successive governments needs to be reviewed. But review and reform should be comprehensive, properly considered, involve citizens, and command public support.

Will Mr Hollinrake change his mind and vote to protect the freedom of his constituents to protest against future threats? MICK JOHNSTON