Local government reorganisation could ‘create larger versions of dysfunctionality’ and fail to bring about the public service reform required, a new report claims.

Launched today at the District Councils’ Network (DCN) Annual Conference, the new study describes the current focus on the creation of a small number of larger councils as a ‘short-term cost-saving exercise’ that will fail to address the issues facing local government.

‘At worst it will be a hugely costly and disruptive process that will simply create larger versions of semi-functional or dysfunctional arrangements that aren’t delivering for those that need it the most or for the nation as a whole,’ says the DCN-commissioned report by Inner Circle Consulting.

The Government expects reorganisation proposals to be ready by 21 March with the new unitary authorities up and running by 2028.

The report argues that the rapid timetable has restricted the ‘bandwidth’ of local government, preventing the development of ambitious proposals. It raises the concern that the final outcome could be ‘driven by risk aversion rather than innovation.’

The report also calls for flexibility over the 500,000 minimum population size limit of the new councils.

‘A place-based approach is vital, as is understanding that places all need different approaches. And so it follows that differences in size and scale are a necessity, not an indulgence of parochial interests,’ it states.

DCN chairman Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen commented: ‘I wholeheartedly back any local government reorganisation that retains the “local” in local government and transforms public services around the unique needs of our communities, but we need to raise our game beyond merely consolidating existing structures to radically rethinking them so that they meet the needs of our communities in the coming decades.’

Visit The MJ (£) to read an interview with DCN chairman Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen.