Healey announces nine successful unitary proposals

Local Government Minister John Healey has today announced that nine proposals for unitary status will now go ahead towards implementation with the intention that all new authorities are fully up and running in 2009.

Councils currently estimate that the nine new unitary authorities could save over £150 million per year which can be used to directly improve front line services or to reduce council tax bills.

The proposals open the door to creating flagship councils that will lead the way on promoting prosperity, empowering citizens and communities, and improving public services for the 3.5 million people in the areas going forward. The number of councils in these areas will be reduced from forty-six to eleven.

The full list of successful authorities that will proceed, subject to the enactment of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health (LGPIH) Bill, is as follows:

For further information see http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1002882&PressNoticeID=2470