Shropshire to go Unitary

9.38.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 26th Jul 2007

It was announced yesterday that Shropshire will be going unitary. The new authority will be based on the County (though with twice as many Councillors, staying on County Divisions). The intention that all new authorities are fully up and running in 2009.

Shropshire Liberal Democrats have been supporting the Unitary bid and will be happy at the news.

The bid was rigorously assessed against the published criteria of affordability, stronger leadership, improved local services, empowered communities and a broad cross section of support.

Local Government Minister John Healey said "We have rigorously assessed bids from councils against published criteria. They have to prove their proposals can improve services for local people and bring potential savings for council tax payers. All of the nine councils have shown they want to build on the improvements we have seen in local government services over the past 10 years - further improving the services they offer to their communities by making them more responsive, effective and efficient. I have been impressed with the plans laid out in their proposals, which show potential for better value for money and improved services. It will now be for these new unitary authorities to ensure they deliver these plans - empowering local people and communities, further improving local services, realising greater efficiencies and delivering improved economic prosperity for their areas."