Call for community to discuss forced local government reorganisation
An authority opposing forced local government reorganisation is urging key businesses and organisations in the area to have their say on the issue.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is inviting a wide range of people and institutions to meet and discuss the difference options being considered for both local government reorganisation and devolution.
Invitations to meet have been extended to Keele University, Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, the housing association Aspire, Staffordshire’s Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, the Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Newcastle’s Business Improvement District and Support Staffordshire, which is the independent voice for voluntary, community and social enterprise groups in the county.
Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said:
This Council is committed to ensuring that any future arrangements reflect the democratic will of our residents, respect our unique identity and build on our proud record of good, value-for-money services in the Borough.
We believe the existing system works best for our community, but if council reorganisation is forced upon us by the government, we want to build on what we currently have to provide better results for residents, businesses and everyone who has a stake in our future.”
Simon Tagg added:
We remain unconvinced that forced reorganisation of local government would improve services for residents and the debate on that issue is delaying progress on devolving powers to regional strategic authorities, which is where the benefits are for places like ours.
Strategic authorities wouldn’t deliver day-to-day local services like emptying the bins or cleaning streets, but would allow more effective regional planning, delivery of infrastructure and economic development.
We can get on with that straight away, bringing money and power to Staffordshire.”
The Borough Council, along with Staffordshire County Council, Stoke-on-Trent City Council and the other seven district and borough councils in the county, has put forward a devolution offer to central Government for the whole of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent to have a Strategic Authority.
Next week the Council will be launching its online consultation with residents to understand the view of residents and partners on the issues of local government reorganisation.