Latest news with #unitaryauthority
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plymouth expansion plans up for discussion
Plans for the expansion of Plymouth into a large part of the South Hams will be shared with the public at a series of City Council wants to increase its population by taking over the running of 13 parishes with about 30,000 move is part of a reorganisation of local government taking place across the country with district and county councils set to be abolished and unitary authorities - such as Plymouth and Torbay - delivering all council services. Plymouth currently has a population of about 265,000, but the government has indicated all unitary authorities in the future should have a minimum population of about 300,000. Devon County Council and all of the district councils are expected to go as part of the plans and a number of proposals have been put forward for what should replace City Council is holding 13 sessions - one in each parish - and said it wants to hear about "challenges and opportunities".Council leader Tudor Evans said he had already heard "loud and clear" about the importance of local identity, but said the reorganisation was about "service provision" such as bin collections, children's social care services and fixing will be held from 9 June to 10 July and more information about attending any of the events is available decisions on the reorganisation of local government will be made by the government.
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Buckinghamshire council leader Martin Tett steps down
A council leader who is standing down to take a backbench role after fourteen years called it an "absolute pleasure and an honour" to serve residents. Conservative Martin Tett took charge of the old Buckinghamshire county council in 2011, before becoming leader of the unitary authority that replaced it in Tett told the BBC he now had a "new partner and grandson, plus an enormous pile of books by the bed" so it "seemed like a good time to step down".He told the BBC he planned to remain in a backbench role until at least the next local elections in 2029. The Conservatives are still the largest party in the authority, but fell just one vote short of the 49 councillors needed for a majority at the local said: "I am sure there will be people saying I am only doing this because we have lost our majority, but that is absolutely untrue."He added: "It is one of those things I have talked about a lot with my partner, and we always had this particular date in mind." 'No regrets' Tett said that among the highlights of his tenure was when he led A campaign against the HS2 rail scheme through admitted opposing it did him "no favours with the then Conservative government" but he was "very proud to be part of that and had no regrets"."A lot of the changes made to the way HS2 was planned have come about because of that campaign," he said he was also "immensely proud" of helping create the Buckinghamshire unitary authority that replaced the old county and four district councils in claimed it was "absolutely the right thing to do", adding that "it pre-empted what the government is doing now, which is introducing unitaries across the rest of the country". 'Potholes are always fun' However, he acknowledged that "probably the most difficult times" were the financial challenges the council faced "each and every year" when it set its annual also admitted he would not miss hearing the word 'potholes', but said that they were "always fun because every resident raises it", although the "majority of residents" realise fixing them is a "national problem" rather than being specific to Buckinghamshire. 'Classic local councillor stuff' Tett said local government had changed since 2011, with authorities now having "less money than they had" to "deliver what they are charged to do".He said he intended to continue representing his Chalfont St Giles & Little Chalfont ward and already had lots of "letters about just about everything from trees to fences - all the classic local councillor stuff."He is expected to formally step down on 21 May. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Crawley and Reigate & Banstead: Should two councils become one?
Should two become one? Councils consider combining 6 minutes ago Share Save Jack Fiehn BBC Surrey, political reporter Share Save Getty Images Crawley Borough Council and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council say there are economic benefits to forming a unitary authority. Two councils in south-east England are considering asking the government to allow them to combine. Crawley Borough Council (CBC) and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council (RBBC) have put together a proposal about forming a new unitary authority. The councils say their aim is to get the economic benefits of being part of an economic area close to Gatwick airport. Government ministers have said they want a major redesign of local government, with the two-tier council system being scrapped and areas having elected mayors. RBBC approved the plan on Tuesday. CBC is meeting on Wednesday. But why are the two boroughs considering this idea? Reigate & Banstead is also supporting a proposal to have three unitary authorities across Surrey. You could say that officials at Reigate and Banstead are trying to ride two horses at the same time. On one hand, they are backing the plan – now supported by nine of the borough and district councils – to split Surrey into three unitary authorities. On the other, they are looking at working with Crawley. Arguments in favour include growing the economy of the two boroughs, the potential to develop road and rail transport links, such as the M25 and the North Downs line, and having a stronger voice on the future of Gatwick. A report also says the proposal would help with building new homes in places like Redhill Aerodrome and land near Salfords, although some councillors have raised concerns about losing green spaces. The government has asked for more details about the plan, including some of the financial aspects, such as dealing with the debts of councils in Surrey, and also the provision of services Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
