Meeting documents

Consideration was given to a report which advised on the current developments regarding unitary local government in Buckinghamshire, and to authorise and fund joint working to enable the Council to participate fully in the debate.

The Acting Chief Executive reported that the history of the unitary debate in Buckinghamshire was traced back to 1997 when Milton Keynes became a unitary authority.  There was a consideration by Bucks County Council of a unitary bid in 2007 and this was replaced with the 2009 pathfinder initiative which involved the County Council and District Councils in the County.  This initiative did not proceed.

The debate concerning local government structures in non-metropolitan “two-tier” areas has gained momentum over recent months in several parts of the Country including Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Hampshire and elsewhere. The national context of this debate has been in terms of The Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 which is a major tool for the Government in putting into practice its devolution agenda.

 

In May of this year, Bucks CC agreed to fund the production of an outline business case which explores the benefits of a new single unitary model of local government for the geographical area of Buckinghamshire. The Leader of BCC has since written to the District Council Leaders to invite them to collaborate with the County Council in discussions on how local government in Buckinghamshire might be modernised. Members had considered Councillor Tett’s suggestion to join the County Council; however the County’s review appears to have a pre-determined outcome of a single unitary council for the whole (excluding Milton Keynes) of Bucks. Given this, it was felt not to be in the residents’ best interests to engage on this basis beyond the open and transparent two-way sharing of financial and other data between the County and Districts

Members agreed that there was now a need to enter into the debate around local government structures in Buckinghamshire. Initial discussions had taken place between the 4 district Leaders and an agreement reached to work collaboratively to examine the potential options for changing local governance arrangements in Buckinghamshire in the best interests of residents and other stakeholders. This did not rule out working with other partners where that was in the best interests of residents and where agreement could be reached.

 

It was agreed that there was a requirement to undertake a significant amount of detailed and specialised work over the coming months, and to jointly commission consultancy assistance

The Leader of the Council and fellow members supported the open minded approach outlined in the report and made particular reference to ensuring any proposals for changes to local government structures put the best interests of residents first and that would be capable of delivering quality value for money services within the finances available.

 

RESOLVED:

i)    That Chiltern District Council work with the other Bucks District Councils and any other relevant parties to explore further the potential for unitary local government in Buckinghamshire or other potential governance models;

ii)   That independent consultants be appointed, where appropriate in partnership with one or more of the other Bucks Districts, to undertake a detailed feasibility study into the viability of potential changes to local governance in Buckinghamshire including a costed business plan;

iii)  To delegate authority to the Acting Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader to commission such further research or studies as may be expedient in the light of future developments concerning local governance proposals; and

iv) That to achieve the above recommendations, up to £50K be released from reserves.