Javid “minded to” back local government changes in Dorset and Suffolk

The Communities Secretary has said he is "minded to" support a proposal for the establishment of two unitary authorities in Dorset in place of the county’s nine councils.

In a written ministerial statement, Sajid Javid also indicated that he is similarly minded to implement the proposed merger of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils into what has been dubbed a ‘super district council’.

The announcement has been welcomed by the leaders of the six councils behind the Future Dorset proposal: Dorset County Council; Bournemouth Borough Council; North Dorset District Council; Poole Borough Council; West Dorset District Council; and Weymouth & Portland Borough Council.

Discussions will now be taken forward through joint committees, in which the three other Dorset councils – Christchurch Borough Council, Purbeck District Council and East Dorset District Council – will participate.

These joint committees will be responsible for all necessary plans to ensure that both new councils are created by and operational in April 2019.

One 'urban' unitary would be created through the merger of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch. The other 'rural' unitary would be established from East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland. The county council would cease to exist.

The changes are in response to predictions that the councils in Dorset need to save £200m by 2019.

In the written ministerial statement the Communities Secretary said he was “satisfied on the basis of the information currently available to me that this proposal if implemented is likely to improve local government across the area, establishing two new councils with a credible geography, and which would command local support”.

Javid said further representations could be made on the Dorset proposal until 8 January 2018. Any final decision he makes is subject to Parliamentary approval.

Once the minister has made his final decision, he will also decide whether to implement, subject to Parliamentary approval, Dorset councils’ proposal for a combined authority.

In a joint statement the Leaders of the six councils behind Future Dorset said: “We have bold ambitions for our county, and strongly believe our plan will deliver a bright and successful future for all those who live here.

“We presented overwhelmingly strong evidence to the Secretary of State – evidence of public support, of backing by Dorset’s business community and voluntary sector, and of immense benefits for the whole county.  Our case for change showed that our plans will drive forward the economic prosperity of the county, helping people achieve a better quality of life.”

The leaders added: “Two councils will be more efficient, save money and protect public services.  They can begin to secure a sustainable future for the public services that people value and need, including and in particular, essential social care for our growing older population.

“Replacing Dorset’s nine councils with two new ones – structured around the established urban and rural geography of the county – will bring a strong and prosperous future Dorset, with two councils better able to work together in the best interests of Dorset’s residents and the long-term success of the county.

“These two councils will have greater influence nationally, better able to secure vital funding for things such as roads and housing.  This will make the area more attractive to businesses, help them to grow and thrive, meaning enhanced job prospects and better lives for local people.

“The scale of the task cannot be underestimated.  But this immense effort we know will be far outweighed by the scale of the prize that awaits the people of Dorset – a county with a bright future that is healthier, more prosperous, vibrant and inclusive.”

Cllr Gary Suttle, Leader of Purbeck, said: “ In January 2017, Purbeck District Council voted against the proposal and this position has not changed. Following today’s announcement by the Secretary of State, we will consider the implications for our residents and may make further representations during the consultation period.”

On the merger between Suffolk Coastal and Waveney, scheduled for May 2019, Javid said he was minded to implement the plans because:

• the proposal was likely to improve local government in the area ("by improving service delivery, giving greater value for money, yielding cost savings, providing stronger strategic and local leadership, and/or delivering more sustainable structures");
• the proposal commanded local support, “in particular that the merger is proposed by all councils which are to be merged and there is evidence of a good deal of local support”; and
• the proposed merged area was a credible geography, “consisting of two or more existing local government areas that are adjacent, and which, if established, would not pose an obstacle to locally-led proposals for authorities to combine to serve their communities better and would facilitate joint working between local authorities”.

The minister added that he intended to assess any further locally-led merger proposals that he received against these criteria.

The Leaders of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Council, Cllrs Ray Herring and Mark Bee, said in a joint statement: “This is great news for us and the people of east Suffolk. By creating a new, larger and more influential council, we will be able to continue to drive costs down, which maintaining services and investing in our local communities.

“We have a proud record of achieving success through innovative partnership working between Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Council. We are glad that the Secretary of State has recognised that the creation of this new ‘super district’ is the next logical step for us to take, if we are to keep on reducing costs while protecting frontline services.

“We need to evolve, if we are to successfully address the shared opportunities and challenges that both councils face, such as the significant reductions in Central Government funding for councils and the need for investment in growth and infrastructure projects, as well as providing more much-needed housing.”