No plans to join unitary debate, says council chief

THERE is no appetite for a reorganisation of local government that would see Warwickshire County Council take sole control of public services - according to borough council leader Craig Humphrey.

He was responding to the suggestion the council adopt what is known as unitary status with the county council leader Izzi Seccombe pledging a debate on the possibility of abolishing district and borough councils in the face of dwindling government funding available to them.

Coun Humphrey told a meeting at the town hall last week: "We will not be commissioning officer time into investigating the feasibility of unitary status.

"There is no appetite for local government reorganisation from either central government or indeed neighbouring councils.

"The costs often outweigh the benefit and we believe in local democracy, at a cost the taxpayer can afford."

In 2004 legislation was passed to allow referendums on regional government but the issue went no further than that in this party of the country.

The latest rejection of the idea was criticised by independent councillor Howard Roberts who told us millions of pounds could be saved from a reorganisation.

"He (Coun Humphrey) seems to have made up his mind without knowing any of the facts.

"I know there is an appetite amongst councillors to discuss this issue. We are not compelled to pursue the idea but if there is a potential to save millions of pounds we would be neglecting our residents not to give the idea serious consideration."

Coun Seccombe said before Christmas she hoped to be able to meet all Warwickshire’s district and borough leaders as there was a duty to look at this given the issue had been raised at nearly every one of her roadshow events.

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