“Given the dual challenges of Covid-19 and Brexit, I am sure most people in the UK will look at the idea of local government reorganisation as rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic. However, Central Government is to publish its white paper on this shortly so it is important that we make the case for genuinely local democracy and the DCN does just that.
“We in the Forest of Dean already share services through a single provider in Publica with Cotswold Dc, Cheltenham Bc and West Oxfordshire Dc. We have taken the steps those advocating a single Unitary would have us take. The only thing left to cut is true local representation and at this moment in time, that would be catastrophic to areas such as ours.
“Instead Devolution should assist District councils and partners, like Local Enterprise Partnerships, to lead strategic issues such as infrastructure, transport and inward investment across wider economic areas. Rather than automatically looking to create a giant distant and cumbersome Gloucestershire Authority, we should be spending time working with other Districts, having those local discussions with each other to see where we can work together.
“Included in those discussions should be our county council, our town and parish councils, our MPs, our local businesses, and the whole range of non-council public services; all the while retaining their focus on delivering for communities. Devolution has to give those best placed to deliver the opportunity to do so.”
"All that left to be cut or reduced is genuine local representation. A Forest voice, a Forest vibe, a Forest drive and a Forest viewpoint. What price that? £20 per year off your council tax bill, £30 ? perhaps lets go mad and say £50 a year off your council tax bill and for that the District Councils gone, deceased it is an ex council.
Now we have a super sized County Council. led not by a party or individuals that the Forest of Dean voted for but also that people in Cirencester, Tewkesbury,Cheltenham ,Wooton under Edge and Chipping wotsit also get to vote for,Feeling represented ?
Oh and lets look at the record of this new Monster authority, your bins,your planning your community involvement, your grants, your leisure centres are now controlled by the same people that bring you your roads, your childrens and youths services, your schools, your bus timetables Hows that £50 or a pound a week looking now?
' Oh and you cant get to speak to you Councillor, There are less of them and they need to cover a much bigger area , the Forest may have as little as Five Councillors, just five. Feeling represented ?
If a level of governance has failed, if one needs to go. Its the outdated nonrepresentational County level not the ones that are actually controlled by the people.
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