Declan’s Policy Update:
“The biggest shake up in local government for half a century’. It’s how local government reorganisation has been described. Devolution is the transfer of power from central government to local government. Local government reorganisation or LGR, is all about the actual changing of the structure of local councils.
LGR will bring changes to the responsibilities, size and lines of local authority boundaries. Here in Staffordshire, the existing county, city, district and borough councils will be replaced with fewer unitary councils.
The implications for businesses across the county are hugely significant and that’s why the voice of business must be front and centre in shaping the future. Each unitary council will take responsibility to deliver all local services, including education, planning, social care and transport.
The government is shaping LGR as a means of reducing duplication, streamlining efficiency and building financially sustainable governance. The actual form of the new structures will directly impact how businesses interact with local government on everything from economic development, infrastructure, investment and skills.
Local government decisions can influence the environment in which businesses operate. For example, planning policies will affect development opportunities and hopefully retain businesses who are already based here, as well as attracting new businesses into the region.
The development of transport strategies will shape connectivity and help to move people to and from work, as well as keeping businesses and people moving for work. Developing economic strategies can determine investment priorities and unlock growth opportunities.
We all recognise the strategic importance of Staffordshire, sandwiched between the West Midlands and North-West conurbations. It’s a county with exceptional connectivity and a rich mix of business sectors. Staffordshire has a proud industrial heritage and a dynamic modern economy, home to global brands like Bet365 and JCB, as well as thousands of SMEs driving innovation and employment. Having a business perspective and voice in the topic of local government reorganisation will help to ensure that any future structure is responsive to economic realities.
Uncertainty is already proving a concern, something we’ve raised in meetings with some of our local MPs. We need to ensure that any reorganisation doesn’t lead to a short-term focus on bins and potholes, rather than the wider strategic issues like skills, infrastructure, and planning.
Up to now, we feel that there has been a lack of focus on how each proposed structure will support the key strategic issues facing businesses based within this region. Some or all of these should be matters for the eventual strategic or mayoral authority to have direct responsibility for. We continue to call for a greater level of detail and strategic certainty around some of the proposed structures.
A government consultation on LGR is now open and we urge business leaders to share their views. The consultation has listed five proposed structures of future unitary authorities. The consultation is open until Thursday 26th March. This is your chance to share your views and hopefully reshape local government in a way that genuinely supports enterprise and the future of our region. Click here to open the consultation:
Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Local Government Reorganisation Hub
