Battle for Atherstone's civic soul: Why five into one does not go

COUNTY LEADERS PLAY 'BIG BROTHER' CARD IN CABINET DECISION TO PRESS ON WITH UNITARY AUTHORITY PLANS

BOROUGH COUNCIL FACES 'TERRIFYING DISSOLUTION OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY' COMING A STEP NEARER TODAY

COUNTY council leaders played their 'big brother' card today in the political battle to keep local democracy at the heart of civic decisions for the population of Atherstone and North Warwickshire.

Warwickshire's Cabinet took a voting sledgehammer to a first stage report ushering in a "terrifying" unitary authority with proposed changes that will signal the biggest shake-up in local government in half a century.

The nine policy-making members of the Tory-controlled county authority voted unanimously to press on with plans to replace the current two-tier model – which effectively means the dissolution of district and borough councils including the North Warwickshire authority.

They sat in 'virtual' session to consider the 48-page report ahead of the publication of a bombshell White Paper next month by a Tory government seemingly intent on a nationwide devolution deal which in Warwickshire's case would see a single entity body determining the civic administration of half a million people.

Atherstone-based borough council Labour group leader Adam Farrell was one of three 'bystander' local authority representatives allowed a three-minute "window of opposition" to the plans which will now go before the full membership of the county council on September.

He likened the Cabinet report to a "begging letter to believe the unbelievable".

Councillor Farrell, in a plea to delay the vote, said it was a case of "decide now and consult later".

He argued: "There is no credible evidence that this is in the best interest of the people."

"Are we being asked to believe that having control of dog waste collection, leisure centres, or refuse will help deliver the ambition of the county council to level a workshop on almost every single measurable outcome.

"Warwickshire County Council has been unable to level up in the past, and where small progress has been made, and those are highlighted in the reports.

"It is often in partnership with district councils that those achievements are made, not through the prism of a single remote county council on its own"

"The biggest added value that districts brings to the table is their local knowledge, their agility and their ability to get things done quickly, the current system is imperfect. There is certainly a case to make for local government reorganisation"

"There has been no discussion with the full council, let alone with over half a million people that live here"

"Why the county council leadership did not seek to begin this conversation with partners, including the district councils to gain some consensus on the vision for the future of local government"

"The answer in my view is very simple. They have made a decision without evidence, without consultation. And if you approve this report today, decide without regard for democracy either."

He added: "In this 48 page report, we are told a new Warwickshire-wide authority will deliver simplified, more accountable leadership with decision making that is closer to communities.

"If this is your idea of more accountable leadership, then the people of Warwickshire should be terrified about what a Warwickshire-wide unity would mean for them and their families."

The model for a unitary authority would see the greatest change to local authorities since the local Government 1972 established district and county authorities.

This report detailed three different options for reform – one recommending slight amendments to the current two-tier model, a second to have north and south unitary bodies, and the third a single entity.

County council leader Izzi Seccombe has already warned that the "status quo is not a realistic option given the government's desire for change".

Throughout the two-hour meeting she was at pains to stress that she did not view the Cabinet vote as a "final decision".

She added: "Full council on September 22 is when the full council decision will be made.

"We would not want to start designing it without the full council" and stated that all councils will be allowed input later on in the process."

A decision to pursue change would then lead to public consultations while the report was submitted to the Government, she added

If county councillors ultimately reject the measures – the case for change will be taken out of their hands and back into the government's jurisdiction.

Atherstone Nub News revealed this week that the five district councils "at risk" of being wiped from the civic map have rejected the county council proposal.

They have written to Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister Simon Clarke signalling they wish to be invited to present proposals for the future reform of local government, based on views gathered from across Warwickshire.

The quintet – North Warwickshire Borough Council plus authorities representing Nuneaton and Bedworth, Stratford, Warwick and Rugby – have also commissioned a study looking at options for the future of the area and will then put those choices to a cross section of residents, businesses and organisations.

The five councils – who are responsible for areas such as housing and planning, street cleaning, refuse collection, environmental health and leisure provision – are opposed to the Warwickshire authority opting for a single entity for the whole of the county without consultation with local residents, the business community or other councils.

They said: "We live in a democracy and we are talking about the biggest shake-up in half a century so it would be totally wrong for any changes just to be pushed through without any feedback from residents, business and partner organisations.

"We all believe that local accountability and responsibility is vital – and never has that been more evident than during the current coronavirus pandemic when local councils have been able to respond to very local needs from residents and businesses."