Unitary Authority?

[Chester]

http://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news...r_destiny/

It's been my opinion that B&D would be better off as a unitary authority for a long time. A large portion of the country has gone this route already and the benefits seem to outweigh the drawbacks.

At the very least it will make our elected councillors more visible, local and accountable.

And it will do away with a whole layer of government!

[Xtro]

I voted don't know. I can see advantages, especially for large towns and cities, but I am not sure if Basingstoke is big enough yet for unitary status. The different proposals by Labour and the Conservatives are clearly motivated by self interest and power rather than the electorate.

Have unitary authorities been any more effective than district and county councils? Why not just make Hampshire County Council a unitary authority?

Sadly most people just don't care, as little more than a third of the electorate can be bothered to vote in council elections. I am not aware that unitary authorities have increased voter turnout.

[basingstokeroyal]

Hampshire would be just too big for a unitary authority. Local issues and demands would surely get pushed further back. If boundaries were looked at, then what Chester highlights good be a go-er.

[Chester]

There are political motivations by the politicians of course. What we have to decide is what's best for us. Basingstoke is quite well balanced politically whereas Hampshire isn't. Giving more local councillors more authority and accountability would keep them on their toes.

The other benefit is that they would not be able to blame each other. When it comes to waste/recycling and roads they always do that. It would cut beaurocracy too. For example schools are funded by HCC and have to pay Council Tax to B&D - how crazy is that? Simplify it and cut the costs.

[Della]

It would be better to have Hampshire controlled from Basingstoke. Population-wise, I don't have the figures to hand but Basingstoke is the biggest followed by Andover so there is no reason for Winchester to have all the control and all the facilities. Once it was the capital of England and now it isn't. About time it had no role in Hampshire in my opinion. Failing that, let Basingstoke and Andover confederate and make a unitary authority with the vast majority of the Hampshire budget. Additional layers of government just increase cost and remove accountability.

[zenaphobia]

give back power to the people I say!

[chinehamian]

(12-03-2010 06:24 PM)basingstokeroyal Wrote:  Hampshire would be just too big for a unitary authority. Local issues and demands would surely get pushed further back. If boundaries were looked at, then what Chester highlights good be a go-er.

I totally agree. Hampshire would be MUCH too big. HCC already forgets that it has responsibilities north of Winchester!

[Chester]

(03-04-2010 11:08 PM)chinehamian Wrote:  

(12-03-2010 06:24 PM)basingstokeroyal Wrote:  Hampshire would be just too big for a unitary authority. Local issues and demands would surely get pushed further back. If boundaries were looked at, then what Chester highlights good be a go-er.

I totally agree. Hampshire would be MUCH too big. HCC already forgets that it has responsibilities north of Winchester!

What has happened in other counties is two or three boroughs form a unitary. That would work.

[Xtro]

(06-04-2010 12:09 PM)Chester Wrote:  

(03-04-2010 11:08 PM)chinehamian Wrote:  

(12-03-2010 06:24 PM)basingstokeroyal Wrote:  Hampshire would be just too big for a unitary authority. Local issues and demands would surely get pushed further back. If boundaries were looked at, then what Chester highlights good be a go-er.

I totally agree. Hampshire would be MUCH too big. HCC already forgets that it has responsibilities north of Winchester!

What has happened in other counties is two or three boroughs form a unitary. That would work.

That was the case with Berkshire, but counties such as Cornwall, Shropshire and Wiltshire are or will soon be unitaries with all borough councils abolished.

Southampton and Portsmouth are already unitaries. You could combine Basingstoke with Test Valley, Hart and Rushmoor into a single unitary - this would cover the north of the county.

[Chester]

In Wales and Scotland two tier councils were abolished when the assemly and parliment were established. If the whole of England were unitary then we would end up with an English parliment I suppose!