County council leaders have urged newly reappointed Housing Secretary Angela Rayner to reset local government reorganisation (LGR), as Prime Minister Andy Burnham begins forming his Government.
The County Councils Network (CCN) congratulated Rayner on her return to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government under Burnham, but warned that recent reorganisation decisions had strayed from her original LGR criteria.
CCN says delivering Burnham's devolution ambitions will require more comprehensive powers for county areas, prioritising deals for areas without one, and boosting the economic firepower of county and unitary councils.
The network also flagged financial pressures ahead, including the redistributive impact of the Fair Funding Review 2.0, calling for fresh Government investment to protect rural services and support local economic growth.
What CCN said
Cllr Lucy Nethsingha, Vice-Chair of the County Councils Network, said: ‘Her re-appointment presents the opportunity for a reset. The Government must listen to those county councils who have serious concerns over recently selected proposals that go against the criteria.’
She added: ‘Only those proposals that can demonstrate financial sustainability, protect local services, and act as a foundation for devolution should be implemented.’
Further reading:
- Local Government Reorganisation: What It Means and Why It Matters
- Devolution and putting place first
- Fiscal Devolution – has stuff just got real?
- Local Government Reorganisation: What councils must get right.
