The Case for Change
What the proposal says |
Some comments from North Shropshire District Council |
| 1. Two-tier working has been enhanced already in Shropshire, but has proved to be complex, time consuming and, for our partners and stakeholders, slow moving. For example, the new Local Area Agreement has been negotiated with 6 different voices for local government and more than 50 signatories. | 1. Under the proposal, the Local Area Agreement will have 45 signatories. If the proposal is not implemented, Shropshire County Council is likely to be given powers to compel many partners to co-operate in future Local Area Agreements. |
| 2. The lack of financial capacity in the County Council's local government partners and the possibility of reduced spending on the public sector nationally, is a key driver for change. We have to deliver continued high levels of services at affordable council tax levels. | 2. All local authorities receive funding according to a formula set down by central government. North Shropshire District Council has good financial capacity and increases its capacity by working in partnership with other organisations in the North Shropshire Partnership. |
| 3. The councils in Shropshire are too small and mostly too sparsely populated to continue to improve services. Substantial inefficiencies have been taken out of the system already. | 3. North Shropshire District Council is small but has used partnerships to improve services. For example we have a partnership with Shropshire County Council and our fellow District and Borough Councils (apart from Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council) which has helped us to improve the recycling rate across the district. The Council has indicated that services can continue to be improved. |
| 4. Many support services in Shropshire are already joined up or shared; for example, the County Council provides financial services to 2 district councils and is in discussions with a third. | 4. North Shropshire District Council purchases some services from Shropshire County Council, some from private contractors, some from the voluntary sector, some from authorities outside Shropshire and some in house. |
| 5. We engage regularly with local people and they tell us they are confused about who does what and where they should go to get help. This is aggravated where service areas overlap between councils. | 5. North Shropshire District Council also engages regularly with local people. Though there is some confusion about the split in responsibility between ourselves and Shropshire County Council we find that it can be easily resolved. |
| 6. Our Ipsos Mori research 2006, shows that local residents see the case for change. They can recognise the potential for improved value for money but want to be sure that services will continue to improve. | 6. We would like to know to what extent you agree that the structure of local government is important in determining the quality of services. (Q1 in the question booklet) |
| 7. Local stakeholders have positive experiences of working with the neighbouring unitary, the Borough of Telford and Wrekin, and believe that one council in Shropshire would improve and speed up decision-making. | 7. North Shropshire District Council is consulting with its stakeholders to see what their view of a unitary Shropshire would be. |
| 8. Shropshire needs one, cohesive voice to be on equal terms with the proposed West Midlands Metropolitan city region and to help us contribute effectively to the economic regeneration of the region. |
8. There are no firm plans for a West Midlands city region that North Shropshire District Council has been made aware of. Shropshire currently has 6 votes in the West Midlands Regional Assembly (one vote per Council). It is not clear how many votes a unitary Shrosphrie would be entitled to. We would like to know to what extent do you believe that one Council for Shropshire would help economic regeneration in North Shropshire.(Q2 in the question booklet) |
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