Postbag
Council is committed to fighting the unitary bid
CONSERVATIVE County Councillor Julian Johnson has asked three questions about the judicial review of the government's unitary authority proposals.
We are happy to give three clear and
unequivocal answers to these questions:
Firstly, yes, Salisbury District Council will continue to support the appeal against the court decision rejecting the Shrewsbury & Atcham and Congleton Borough Council's judicial review.
We will do so because local people have told us that they don't want a single unitary
authority.
In June, an independent MORI poll revealed that almost 80 per cent of Wiltshire people were opposed to the creation of a single council.
Since then, many town and parish councils have supported our stance.
The government itself admits that, of the 6,500 responses they received from the public, 85 per cent were against the proposal to create a single unitary authority.
We have listened to what people have said and acted accordingly.
Secondly, no money has been spent by Salisbury District Council on this action to date.
However, we have offered to support Congleton Borough Council's appeal up to a maximum of £30,000 if requested.
Thirdly, this money, should it be requested, comes from an annual contingency budget specifically to cover the costs of any legal actions in which the council may be involved. So it will not mean cuts in local services.
The issue at stake is one of local democracy and the wishes of local people to retain a truly local council.
We are determined to do all that we can to stop south Wiltshire's affairs from being run from a more remote mega council based in Trowbridge.
CLLR PAUL SAMPLE, Leader, Salisbury District Council
CLLR STEVE FEAR, Deputy leader, Salisbury District Council
11:33am Thursday 8th November 2007
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CommentPosted by: lindac51, salisbury on 6:32pm Fri 9 Nov 07
In response to the 'Council is committed to the unitary bid. I note the money is to come from a special fund. We all have special funds - holidayfund - car fund - unfortunately when times are hard these funds are pooled together to become 'survival fund'. How can this authority spend money on another district when our council taxes are being hiked up yearly &we are told there is no money for repairs & renewalsof our areas council houses? As the local housing association was a non-starter &we have a responsibility for the upkeep of these houses, suppose we keep our money and spend it here in our district.
The Local Government Minister is committed to Unitary Authority Status in some districts. This money would be thrown away fighting the inevitable
In response to the 'Council is committed to the unitary bid. I note the money is to come from a special fund. We all have special funds - holidayfund - car fund - unfortunately when times are hard these funds are pooled together to become 'survival fund'. How can this authority spend money on another district when our council taxes are being hiked up yearly &we are told there is no money for repairs & renewalsof our areas council houses? As the local housing association was a non-starter &we have a responsibility for the upkeep of these houses, suppose we keep our money and spend it here in our district.
The Local Government Minister is committed to Unitary Authority Status in some districts. This money would be thrown away fighting the inevitable
Posted by: John Ellis, Farley on 12:29pm Sun 18 Nov 07
With Shrewsbury being forced to go to appeal, is this a vain and expensive exercise? It is the most undemocratic act of government in recent history and the Minister admits it. The electorate has not be asked for sapproval
With Shrewsbury being forced to go to appeal, is this a vain and expensive exercise? It is the most undemocratic act of government in recent history and the Minister admits it. The electorate has not be asked for sapproval
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