13 February 2009
By Vivienne Russell
The deadline for final proposals on local government reorganisation in Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon has been put off until the summer because of legal wrangles.
Last month, the Boundary Committee for England, which reviews local authority structures, warned that it would be 'inappropriate' to provide any advice by February 13 as originally agreed. Ministers this week agreed that the committee can have up to July 15 to finalise its proposals.
The government wants to replace the two-tier system that operates in the three counties with new unitary authorities but has been opposed by some of the councils concerned.
Two separate judicial reviews, brought by East Devon Council and Breckland Council in Norfolk, failed to halt the reorganisation process but the authorities are challenging the decisions in the Court of Appeal.
Pete Edwards, chair of Exeter City Council's local government review committee, said: 'This [delay] is immensely frustrating and disappointing. It is now three years since the council started its bid for a unitary authority at the invitation of government and we are still at least six months away from a decision.'
PFfeb2009
