GOVERNMENT U-TURN ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION CAUSES CHAOS IN WARWICKSHIRE

Despite confirming at the start of summer that Warwickshire would be split into two unitary authorities, the Government have now u-turned, with just 8 months to go before the next set of elections causing chaos and frustration for council employees and residents. 

Commenting on this, Manuela Perteghella, Liberal Democrat MP for Stratford-on-Avon said:

“It beggars’ belief that the Government has done this, at the eleventh hour.

“I have long campaigned for a South/ North Warwickshire split as this is the best way to provide good quality local government for my constituents. 

“For too long, George Finch’s Reform administration has treated the South like the goose with the golden egg.  Decisions such as the closure of Great Alne primary school in the face of significant increases in housing development demonstrate how out of touch this Reform led administration are, and how they don’t prioritise my constituents. 

This week, Manuela took the opportunity to raise this with the secretary of state. Speaking in the House of Commons, she said:

“This sudden U-turn is greatly disappointing for my constituency, after so much work by council officials, residents, councillors and other partners, and after so much money wasted on LGR costs. 

“Given that the two-unitary model in Warwickshire—South Warwickshire and North Warwickshire—was championed by my constituents, the majority of local council leaders and the majority of Warwickshire MPs, will the Secretary of State reassure us all regarding the timescale for this review?

“Above all, will she reassure us that the decision will respect the democratic input of the people of Warwickshire who contributed to the previous LGR process?

The Secretary of State, Angela Rayner MP, recognised the concerns raised by Manuela and responded accordingly:

“Absolutely, I reassure the hon. Member that this is about me reviewing the decisions and making sure they are absolutely correct. I want to do that. I recognise the work that has gone in from her local area and those representatives, and I pay tribute to the work that they are doing. I have indicated that I want the review to take weeks rather than months. I do not want to kick the can down the road; I just want to ensure that the decisions that we made are robust and take us forward in the spirit of co-operation with local areas.”