30 March 2007
Sixteen of the 26 bids for unitary status submitted by local authorities have been approved and will now go out to public consultation.
Local government minister Phil Woolas unveiled a larger than expected number of successful bids on March 27, which he said was a reflection of the high quality of the applications.
There are three pairs of competing bids, and a Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman confirmed that no limit had been set on how many would get the green light, meaning that 13 could be approved.
Announcing the shortlist, Woolas said: 'The bids that local authorities submitted show that they are up for improving the services they offer to their communities by making them more responsive, effective and efficient.
'We have been impressed by their quality, value for money and their cross section of support, which is why we can now go much further and proceed to the next stage in 13 areas.'
The bids were judged on whether they enjoyed broad local support, if they would strengthen local leadership and whether reorganisation costs could be covered from existing budgets and without raising council tax.
Successful bids included several counties seeking unitary status, such as Cornwall, Cumbria, Durham, North Yorkshire, Shropshire and Wiltshire; and Exeter and Norwich city councils.
But Sir Jeremy Beecham, vice chair of the Local Government Association, warned against an undue focus on organisational structures. 'There is no one right way to organise local government. What matters is that local people get a system that meets their needs and wishes,' he said.
The full list of shortlisted authorities is as follows:
Bedfordshire County Council - for a single unitary authority for the county
Bedford Borough Council – for a unitary Bedford
Cornwall County Council – for a single unitary authority for the county
Cheshire County Council - for a single unitary authority for the county
Chester City Council – for two unitary authorities for the county
Cumbria County Council - for a single unitary authority for the county
Durham County Council - for a single unitary authority for the county
Exeter City Council – for a single unitary authority for the city
Ipswich Borough Council – for a single unitary authority for the borough
North Yorkshire County Council - for a single unitary authority for the county
Northumberland County Council - for a single unitary authority for the county
Northumberland Districts – for two unitary authorities for the county
Norwich City Council – for a single unitary authority for the city on existing boundaries
Shropshire County Council - for a single unitary authority for the county
Somerset County Council - for a single unitary authority for the county
Wiltshire County Council - for a single unitary authority for the county
PFmar2007
