By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
Plans for a “Greater Gloucester” council are “on life support” after the Government announced it is minded to confirm the creation of a single unitary for the county.
Local government is being reorganised and there are plans to abolish the remaining two-tier system across England.
In Gloucestershire, the preferred option involves the creation of a single unitary which would replace Gloucestershire County Council and all six district, city and borough councils.
Local government minister Jim McMahon said last week the Government is minded to confirm this option subject to a further consultation period.
The two other options included splitting the county into two unitary authorities. One would have divided Gloucestershire into east and west with one council made up of the district of boroughs of Cheltenham and Tewkesbury.
The other proposal known as the Greater Gloucester option involved the creation of a larger council centred around the city and another unitary authority for the rest of the county.
Former City Council leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton), whose authority came up with the Greater Gloucester proposal, believes it is not dead yet.
“It’s on life support,” he said. “It’s not over until it’s over.
“The Government did say they were minded to carry on.
“The Liberal Democrat group is highly likely to put in a submission to the consultation to explain why we think Greater Gloucester is the best option for the city for local government reorganisation based on the criteria.
“I have a feeling that none of the proposals in what the Government is planning is really the best for the city and the county, that’s the trouble.”
In his letter to the council leaders, the minister said the Secretary of State has decided to withdraw the decision announced in July concerning the council shake-up proposals for Gloucestershire.
And he said he and the Secretary of State are considering the proposals afresh and will reach a new final decision after considering representations.
If the Government confirms its decision for local government reorganisation, elections would be held for the new unitary authority in May 2028.
And the new Gloucestershire Council would be formally created in April 2029.