Statement on Local Government Reorganisation

Despite their best efforts, Conservative Councillors will not be able to duck the judgement of the voters in Warwickshire this May.

Warwick District Lib Dems welcome the government’s announcement that the County Council elections in Warwickshire will not be cancelled – they will take place as planned on 1st May.

This decision will mean that a new Council will be elected that better represents the views of the electorate now, and doesn't rely upon a team of Councillors who were elected at the peak of the ‘Boris bounce' to drive the changes. 

The Deputy Prime Minister has made it clear that in areas where elections do take place, she will be inviting proposals for reorganisation to be submitted to Government by autumn this year. This gives us just over six months to consult residents, businesses and other organisations across Warwickshire. We also need to work with neighbouring authorities to identify the best solutions for our area. This decision means that the County Council will have to work collaboratively with the Districts and Boroughs to arrive at an agreed reorganisation.

These consultations must proceed at pace and answer two key questions:

• Firstly, what shape should the future of local government in Warwickshire take? Should there be one unitary authority for all of Warwickshire? Would having two unitary authorities better serve the different communities of North and South Warwickshire? Should some other solution be found?
   
• Secondly, should those future Unitaries attempt to join the West Midlands Combined Authority, or work with councils from other neighbouring counties to form a new Strategic Authority?
   

Neither of these should be party political matters, so we welcome the approach agreed at last week’s meeting of Warwick District Council to work on a cross-party basis and with other local councils to find the best outcome for Warwickshire.