Greater community debate
Fears have been raised that Central Government could ignore the views of the people of South Bedfordshire by deciding to significantly redraw local government boundaries in Bedfordshire without fully consulting residents.
South Bedfordshire District Council Leader, Councillor Norman Costin, said the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government was currently looking at the future of local government in Bedfordshire.
Councillor Costin said two proposals for change were currently before the government which advocate two very different proposals for reorganising the four councils – South Bedfordshire District Council, Mid-Beds District Council, Bedfordshire County Council and Bedford Borough Council – which provide local government services across the shire.
“Despite assurances that there will be public consultation over the option that is finally selected for Bedfordshire, we understand central government is not proposing to directly survey or ask local residents what they think or want,” said Councillor Costin.
“If this is true, not only might we get a new local government structure in the district which the people of South Bedfordshire don’t want, but also something that quite frankly will not be able to deliver effective, high quality and reliable local services.
“If change is to happen, our preference is for the creation of new ‘Central Bedfordshire’ unitary council which covers the Mid and South Bedfordshire District Council areas and provides the services currently provided by the County Council and the districts. This is the proposal we have submitted to the Secretary of State and it complements the bid which has been put forward by Bedford Borough Council to create a new unitary council covering Bedford itself.
“The other option before central government is for a shire-wide unitary council covering all of Bedfordshire, proposed by the County Council. We don’t believe there is widespread community support for this proposal and it was rejected in 1994 in a residents’ survey. We are not convinced it represents the best way forward for South Bedfordshire,” said Councillor Costin.
South Bedfordshire District Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Rawcliffe, said it was important that South Bedfordshire residents are given the opportunity to express a view about how they want local government to be organised and delivered in the district.
“There may be only one opportunity for residents to have their say on this issue before the government announces its preference at the end of March.”
South Bedfordshire District Council has produced an information and consultation leaflet on the ‘Central Bedfordshire’ proposal and why it should be supported. It is being distributed to all residents with the residents’ newspaper Informaction during the first two weeks of March 2007. At households are asked to return the section of the leaflet indicating which option they prefer: a ‘Central Bedfordshire’ unitary council or a ‘County-wide’ unitary council.
“We are also encouraging people to complete a more detailed webbased survey online where they can register their opinions and views online.”
“We want as many people in the district as possible to engage in the debate and express an opinion so that we can let the government know what local residents think,” said Councillor Rawcliffe.
Further information available online.
