The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched consultations on plans to shake up local government across 14 counties, in a bid to drive “quicker decisions to build homes and grow our towns and cities”.
The consultations, which run until 25 March, seek residents’ views on plans to simplify “needless duplication and reduce bureaucracy”. This follows 52 submissions relating to local government reorganisation from local leaders in areas including Devon, Derbyshire and Kent.
The government’s proposals include bringing decisions on housing, planning and transport “under one roof” to speed up decisions, while also bringing planning for housing and children’s and adult social care together so homes can meet specific needs.
MHCLG said this marked the “latest step in our plans to reorganise local government, which will end the current wasteful two-tier system and replace it with stronger unitary [authorities]”.
Baroness Taylor of Stevenage, parliamentary under-secretary at MHCLG, said in a written statement: “We will see one council in charge for each area, fully responsible for taking the quicker decisions to build homes and grow our towns and cities, as well as creating the right conditions for businesses to invest, grow and create jobs.”
This consultations follow MHCLG’s merger in October of 11 local authorities across Surrey into two unitary bodies in a bid to speed up planning decisions.
Alison McGovern, minister for local government and homelessness, said: “Unitary councils provide clarity for residents and are more effective. That’s why we’re carrying out the biggest change to local government in a generation, and I would encourage local people and businesses to share their views in shaping the future of their area.”
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