Latest news with #councilreorganisation
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Leaders voice support for Lincolnshire councils shake-up option
Two senior councillors have voiced their support for proposals to reduce the number of councils in Greater Lincolnshire from 10 to proposals have been submitted outlining how the county should be divided, including splitting up the north and Worth, leader of South Holland District Council, along with the leader of East Lindsey District Council, Craig Leyland, said this option would give residents a "stronger voice" in how services were reorganisation aims to merge councils into bigger unitary authorities, expected to be established in 2028, with projected savings of £2bn nationwide. The northern council would be made up of North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire, East Lindsey and West Lindsey, with Lincoln, North Kesteven, South Kesteven, Boston and South Holland merging to create a southern said the proposal would remove the "confusing" current two-tier structure, which includes Lincolnshire County Council."Services are delivered by 10 different councils, creating duplication, inefficiency and confusion," he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the two unitary councils would be more accessible to local people."It's built on a simple idea that services work best when they're joined up, are easily accessible and accountable to local people," he County Council previously said its preferred option was for a single unitary authority coving the whole of Lincolnshire, with district councils abolished and North and North East Lincolnshire amalgamated into a second separate will need to send their plans to the government by November before a decision is made. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Click here to download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and here to download the BBC News app from Google Play for Android devices.
BBC News
09-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Three-council plan for Suffolk proposed
A proposal has been made to create three new councils in Suffolk under local government government wants the current council structure in the county scrapped and replaced with one layer of existing district and borough councils have proposed three unitary authorities, and the BBC understands they could be based around Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and County Council wants a sole authority to provide all services across the county. In June, the county was given nearly £300,000 to help develop plans for council government minister Jim McMahon said the funding should be split between councils and he hoped areas would collectively submit final five district and borough councils will now vote on whether to take forward their three-authority published proposals do not contain details about boundaries or names for the new councils. West Suffolk Council will be the first of the authorities to vote on the Waterman, the Labour leader of the council, said: "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure local government stays local and delivers for the communities and businesses it serves."A local unitary authority specifically for the western area of Suffolk would find it far easier than one mega council to concentrate on the unique attributes and needs of our market towns, and on the rural communities that surround them."The other local authorities will vote on the plans soon, with proposals due to be submitted to the government in September. Suffolk County Council has accused the district and borough councils of leaving "communities in the dark" over a lack of detail in their Rout, the council's cabinet member for local government reform, said: "This detail is important not only for the public, who rightly want to know where their town or village is within the districts' proposals, but also for us as we model the service implications for some of Suffolk's most vulnerable residents if the government chooses to break Suffolk up."Are they suggesting Felixstowe is in with east Suffolk or Ipswich? Where is Hadleigh, Woodbridge or the Shotley peninsula?"We just don't know, and by not coming clean they're keeping the public in the dark and putting service users at potential risk." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
RNZ News
08-07-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Proposed reorganisation of Southland's councils being investigated
Southland District Mayor Rob Scott last year proposed two authorities for the region . Photo: Matthew Rosenberg/LDR The Local Government Commission is investigating the reorganisation of councils in the Southland region. Southland District Mayor Rob Scott last year proposed two authorities for the region - one rural-based and one for Invercargill city. The commission consulted with Gore District Council, Invercargill City Council, Southland District Council and Environment Southland, before deciding on the investigation. It also engaged with Te Ao Mārama Incorporated, on behalf of Ngāi Tahu ki Murihiku. The commission said Southland District's initiative meets the aims of the Local Government Act, including improved local decision-making and better service delivery. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Surrey's council reorganisation plans put to consultation
Residents are to be asked for their thoughts on plans for a reorganisation of councils in Surrey as part of a government of the plans being consulted on is for two unitary councils - one in the east and one in the west - which is supported by Surrey County Council, Elmbridge Borough Council and Mole Valley District second is a proposal for three new councils - one in the east, one in the west and one in the north - which is supported by nine districts and government said: "Under both options, local government services will be streamlined with needless duplication brought to an end – cutting the two-tier premium." Jim McMahon OBE, minister of state for local government and English devolution, said: "We want local government to be as efficient and effective as possible. "That's why we're building sustainable unitary councils, able to deliver on local priorities and improve outcomes for local people, as part of the Plan for Change."Surrey is leading the way towards stronger local government that provides the high-quality public services people deserve."A third proposal for Reigate and Banstead to merge with Crawley will not be consulted on as ministers say it does "not meet the statutory requirements". Neighbouring councils, local public service providers, chambers of commerce, voluntary groups and local residents have until 5 August to submit their programme of local government reorganisation affects 21 areas in Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said Surrey was the first area to have their proposals put to a government consultation.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Surrey County Council approves reorganisation plans
Surrey council reorganisation plans approved 11 minutes ago Share Save Jack Fiehn BBC Surrey, political reporter Share Save Getty Images The government is expected to make a decision by the end of 2025 A plan to reorganise councils in Surrey into two unitary authorities has been approved by the county council. Surrey County Council (SCC), supported by Elmbridge Borough Council and Mole Valley District Council, is proposing that two new councils are created, with one in the east and another in the west. Epsom & Ewell, Guildford, Reigate & Banstead, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Waverley and Woking borough councils and Tandridge District Council are backing a plan for three new authorities. The government has given councils a deadline of Friday to submit their proposals. The leader of Surrey County Council says a two unitary east/west model is the best option. At a cabinet meeting, the Conservative leader of SCC, Tim Oliver, said the decision had been based on evidence. "At the end of the day, this is not – and should not be – looked at through a political lens," he said. "This is about what is in the best interest for residents… how can we establish unitaries that are going to be financially secure going forward." The proposal for two councils has Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Runnymede, Woking, Guildford and Waverley in the west authority; and Elmbridge, Mole Valley, Epsom & Ewell, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge in the east. 'Much more balanced' The leader of the Residents' Association and Independents Group, Catherine Powell said the plan for the west of Surrey "cannot be financially sustainable". "It will include all three areas with the highest need for children's services and the three areas with the lowest council tax band base, which also happen to be the same three areas with the highest levels of debt," she said. "The three unitary option is much more balanced." At a full meeting of SCC on Wednesday, Liberal Democrat, Labour and Green Party councillors also said they were opposed to two unitary councils. In the plan for three authorities, Surrey Heath, Woking, Guildford and Waverley would be in the west; Mole Valley, Epsom & Ewell, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge would be in the east; and Runnymede, Spelthorne and Elmbridge would be in the north. Mr Oliver said he felt the issue of the debt owed by councils across Surrey, particularly in Woking, had been "almost weaponised" and that there continue to be conversations with the government. Ministers are expected to make a decision on the final proposals by the end of 2025. Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, and on X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
