Background

A Local Government White Paper (link to external site, opens in new window) was published in October 2006, setting out the Government agenda to develop the role of local government.

At the same time, an invitation was sent to councils (link to external site, opens in new window) to consider making a bid for unitary status.

The Secretary of State wished to hear from those that believed there was a strong case in their area for a new unitary council to replace existing county and district councils.

She also wished to hear from those with pioneer proposals to improve two-tier working between the county and district councils.

As a result of this process, 26 bids were submitted for unitary status (PDF file, opens in new window) - a map showing the national picture can be found here (PDF file, opens in new window).

From these, the Secretary of State consulted on 16, then nine and the final decision was that six areas would move to unitary status, including Wiltshire.

Following the decision, Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council and Congleton Borough Council (affected by the decision to move towards a unitary Shropshire) brought a judicial review against the Secretary of State in September. The outcome was unsuccessful, but leave for appeal was granted. Congleton took the lead on the appeal and received funding from a number of other authorities, including West Wiltshire. The appeal was heard in January 2008, but was again unsuccessful. Shropshire continues forward to unitary status alongside Wiltshire and the other five areas.

West Wiltshire District Council had strongly opposed the County Council's bid and made clear that the Council was of the view that the unitary would be too remote and would not achieve the desired efficiencies and savings. Despite this, now the decision has been made, we are committed to ensuring that public services are maintained and that improvements are achieved wherever possible.

West Wiltshire provided the Secretary of State with three documents:

• A covering letter [pdf file - opens in new window]
• Your choice, your future - a critique of one unitary council for the whole of Wiltshire [pdf file - opens in new window]
• Your voice, your future - the right way forward for local government in Wiltshire [pdf file - opens in new window]

For more information you should read:

• The Communities and Local Government website where you can see the decisions which have been made up and down the country - www.communities.gov.uk
• The County Council website which contains a copy of their bid together with their implementation plan - www.onecouncilforwiltshire.co.uk