15 August 2008
Councils preparing to become unitary authorities next April need to work out just how they will make local involvement a reality, local government minister John Healey has said.
In an interview with Public Finance, Healey said all the councils granted unitary status had made community and town level involvement a major feature of their bids.
'What they need to do is nail down the proposed arrangements and consult people about how they will work,' he said. 'Each and every proposal got the go-ahead because there was a strong element of arrangements for [decision-making] at a community and town level, which should bring influence more within the reach of people.
'I will want to see, within a couple of years, these councils setting the standard for other councils in that part of the country. That was the promise that was there in each of their proposals.'
Nine new unitary authorities will come into existence on April 1 in seven areas of England, including Cornwall, Northumberland and Cheshire. Healey has been visiting the affected councils to take stock of their progress and offer additional help. The councils should also be prioritising the appointment of senior staff and good communication with residents, he said.
The minister said he was under no illusions about the scale of the task. 'It's one of the reasons why I'm making sure the department [for Communities and Local Government] and I give the support that we can, because I want to make this work,' he said.
'I've been struck by the level of commitment to making this work, even from those who opposed the unitary in the first place… There is a recognition that the best interests of residents are now served by making it work well, and I applaud them for that.'
The DCLG is offering to act as broker between council departments if necessary, as well as putting the transitional arrangements in place. Regulations that come into force at the end of August give the new unitaries full control over the creation of parish councils, as well as responsibility for Local Area Agreements.
Healey said: 'These regulations… will provide the means for people to get involved with and be heard by their council, and they will help to maintain the necessary momentum to ensure that transition to unitary status takes place smoothly and efficiently.'
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