Cheers Rob.
It kind of backs up my theory of blindfold and drawing pin!
Yours aye
Gareth
Robert J Bourn wrote:
> Gareth,
>
> Speaking from personal experience of the abolitioin of a County Council and it's replacement by six small UAs, i can safely say that there were no overall criteria used. The outcome of the local government revew was based on the circumstances in each county, the representations made by the local authorities and the whim of the LGR review commissioin (can't remember it's proper name at the moment) and last but certainly not least the political dogma of the Conservative government. In some parts of the country reorganisation may have made some sense but is many, if not most, it did not. For example the doughnuts effect in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire (ie, unitary city, two-tier county are more of a product of effective lobbying by the city authorities than clear strategic thought on behalf of the Local Government Commission.
>
> In Berkshire, which is the area I know best, it was decided to simply abolish the County Council. The Districts were not reorganised at all leaving and already fairly small county split uo into six small (geographically and demographically) areas, most of whom do not have enough critical mass to sustain the extra duties on the current coucil tax returns. The end result is inefficiency, confusion and lack of strategic thought. For example, In Berkshire, we have the stupid situation where a large part of the connurbation of Reading sits outside of the Borough Council's borders in Districts that could be described as hostile. If there were clear criteria used by the Commision, the districts would also have been reorganised as they are basically too small.
>
> I'm not sute if this helps you. It is a very biassed and cynical view of UAs I holdas, as far as I can see, the result of Lgr in virtually all of the areas it was carried out has been disasterous in the short term and short sighted in the long term. A result of political dogma over clear strategic thinking. If anyone in other UAs has a radically different view, I would be intrigued to hear them as Berkshire is not necessarily representative.
>
> Rob Bourn.
>
> >>> Gareth Talbot <[log in to unmask]> 03/23/00 09:27am >>>
> Not really an SMR question, but lets's just say I have developed an
> unhealthy interest in Unitary Authorities!
> Does anyone know what the criterea was when the UAs were created? i.e.
> was it based on population, area etc..?
> Cheers
> Gareth
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