Introduction
from Councillor David Minnery, Leader of North Shropshire District Council
This is an exciting time for local government. Our national Government has some big ambitions for local authorities and is proposing to change the way Councils make decisions as well as the way they work in partnership with other service providers.
As part of these changes, Government has said that areas served by County and District Councils must get ready to do things differently. They have invited Councils to submit plans for unitary government (where all the District, Borough and County Councils will be dissolved and a brand new Council would take over). They have also invited Councils to submit proposals for radically changing the way that County and District Councils work together. Shropshire County Council has made it clear that it plans to submit a proposal for unitary government in Shropshire. South Shropshire District Council and Oswestry Borough Council have voted to support this proposal.
North Shropshire District Council will meet on 23 January 2007 to consider the proposal and when we discuss the matter we want to have some understanding of the issues that are important to our partners, stakeholders and residents.
This document is based on the Executive Summary in the proposal document. On the left hand side of each page is the text taken from the document which was given to us by Shropshire County Council, South Shropshire District Council and Oswestry borough Council. We have not altered this text except to change the order of a few of the paragraphs. On the right hand side of each page you will find information about what the proposal will mean for North Shropshire. This text was prepared by North Shropshire District Council. Aside from with regard to the Case for Change, our intention has not been to comment on the proposal: just to give you some more specific information about how it might affect you.
We have a small number of questions that we would like you to answer and we would welcome any comments or questions you have. A separate booklet has been provided for your answers and a reply-paid envelope so that you can easily return the booklet to the Council. You can also give us your views on-line at www.northshropshiredc.gov.uk/unitary
I do hope you will be able to take part in the debate and give us your views. Because of the tight timescale set by the Government for the proposal to be received, we will need to have your forms returned on or before 14 January 2006 to be able to be included in the debate at Council. Forms received after that date will still be collated and the Council will use these views in any future discussions over government in Shropshire.
Please don't forget that there will be an opportunity to talk about these matters and any others relating to North Shropshire District Council services at our Worth the Tax? events later in January. For more information visit www.northshropshiredc.gov.uk/worththetax or phone 01939232771.
Thank you for taking the time to consider this most important issue.
