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Ref: 131/07 30 March 2007
Cheshire’s Single Unitary Bid Gets Higher Government Rating Than Split County Proposal
Government has released the results of unitary status submission bids made by successful local authorities selected to go forward to the consultation stage.
And Cheshire County Council’s bid for a single unitary has been awarded the highest possible rating in four out of five criteria stipulated by Whitehall.
Service delivery, affordability, neighbourhood engagement and strategic leadership have all been judged as being highly likely to achieve the required outcome.
And the fifth criteria, ‘cross section of support’ has been classed in the second highest category - a reasonable likelihood that the proposal will achieve the desired result.
Significantly, the proposal to fragment Cheshire into two unitary authorities has been given a weaker assessment.
Said Chief Executive Jeremy Taylor: “The Government criteria require that proposals provide strong leadership, improve public service, empower local communities and have a broad cross section of support.
“We are told that Ministers are determined to ensure that ‘any proposals going forward represent value for money and can be met from existing resources’.
“Consequently, I’m delighted that our submission meets those exacting requirements and we have the fullest confidence that it will stand up to the closest scrutiny.
“Certainly, it is only the single unitary option that can be achieved at no extra cost to the tax-payer and enables Cheshire to hold it own against Merseyside and Manchester.
IC/LJ
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