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Ref: 441/07      21 November 2007

“Great Majority” Support ‘One Cheshire’ Option
Reveals Government Report.

  
The people of Cheshire have come out overwhelmingly in favour of a single unitary council for the county   
 
Results of the government’s stakeholder consultation on proposals for either a single or two unitary solutions revealed in a “great majority“ of representations supporting Cheshire County Council’s submission for a strong united county.
 
A report issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) says: “Although some members of the public expressed support for the two unitary proposal the great majority of the representations received from members of the public expressed support for the county’s proposal.
 
“Many felt that having a single council for Cheshire would raise the standard of service provision for all county residents.
 
“Others expressed their concern at a perceived lack of accountability within the District councils – an issue they felt would be ameliorated by a single authority.”
 
 And it continues: “Others considered that Cheshire proposals would make local government in Cheshire more consistent with other parts of the country.”
 
The number of representations received on the Cheshire submissions by Government was the second highest response from anywhere in the country.
 
The DCLG reports that all schools that submitted evidence expressed a preference for the single authority option, arguing that a single authority would provide value for money.
 
 “A Unitary Cheshire Council would in their view be able to make financial savings through its administration and running costs and would provide a more transparent and accountable system for schools to operate within. “  says the report.
 
Representations from a range of  businesses argued that a single unitary authority for Cheshire would best serve the interests of residents and businesses and the business sector was keen for the ‘brand image’ of Cheshire to be retained.
 
About a quarter of the town and parish councils responses wanted a single unitary, citing the county council’s work in developing a proposed network of area committees, which would  allow town and parish councils throughout Cheshire to play an enhanced role .
 
Only a ‘small number’ favoured the two unitary option whilst many had considered that improved two-tier working should have been an option.
 
Around half of the `public sector‘ responses believed that the County council’s submission ‘best met the outcomes specified in the invitation criteria’ with a minority eager to strengthen the existing two-tier system.
 
And lastly, the majority of the comments from voluntary and community organisations supported the single unitary proposal.
 
Says the DCLG: “Many such organisations already work across the county  and a unitary would lead to more joined up services, making access for small voluntary bodies easier.
 
“However, a sizeable minority were concerned about any move to unitary local government as, in their view, the savings envisaged in each bid could  adversely affect the overall support and funding of the third sector.”
 
County Councillor Nora Dolphin, Executive Member for Communities and Communications: “Quite obviously, the people of Cheshire and most of our partners do not want to see this county needlessly split into two. Nor do they want disruption or cuts to excellent services.
 
“They do however want a unified authority with the strength, strategic clout, experience and expertise – a county region - to represent Cheshire’s interests at the table with our powerful neighbours in Greater Manchester and Merseyside.”
 
Ends

For Further Information Please Contact Cllr. Nora Dolphin On 01606 852526 Or Ian Callister, Media Relations Manager On 01244 972216