Statement from Cllr Lisa Spivey, Leader of Gloucestershire County Council, following Government announcement on next steps for local government reorganisation in Gloucestershire
“Following the Government’s pause in the LGR process, we have today received a new ‘minded-to’ decision that Gloucestershire should have one unitary council, subject to the remaining legal processes being completed.
“We also now have a revised timetable. Subject to the remaining legal steps being completed, unitary elections would take place in 2028, and the new council would come into being in 2029, a year later than originally planned.
“We are pleased to finally have clarity on the timetable for local government reorganisation and to be able to get back to the task of delivering a single unitary council for Gloucestershire.
“We will continue working with our partners to implement the new council and ensure it delivers quality, sustainable services for residents. That has been our focus throughout this entire process, and it will remain at the heart of everything we do.
“But the delay has consequences. We are already facing extremely difficult financial choices, and it would be wrong for Gloucestershire taxpayers to pick up the costs of LGR. The Government must meet the costs of a process and timetable it has set.
“The obvious question now is: what about devolution? We were told that devolution was the prize for going through LGR, yet Gloucestershire was not included in the Government’s Budget announcements yesterday. We cannot allow Gloucestershire to become the forgotten county when it comes to devolution.
“Six of Gloucestershire’s seven councils have been clear that joining the West of England Combined Authority is the right route for our county, and all of the WECA councils support that position. The support is there and the route is clear. Now we need the Government to act.
“We are ready to get on with delivering the economic growth, homes, transport, infrastructure and skills that Gloucestershire needs. We just need a deal.”