Shake-up which would see Chesterfield Borough Council abolished 'shelved'

Councillors have welcomed news that a major shake-up of local government which would have seen Chesterfield Borough Council abolished could be ‘shelved’.
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The plans would have seen borough and district councils across Derbyshire replaced by a large unitary authority, which campaigners claimed would be ‘remote and unaccountable’.

Councillor, Paul Holmes, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Chesterfield, co-authored a letter to the Government calling for the proposal to be dropped.

Chesterfield Town Hall. Unitary council plans could see Chesterfield Borough Council abolished.Chesterfield Town Hall. Unitary council plans could see Chesterfield Borough Council abolished.
Chesterfield Town Hall. Unitary council plans could see Chesterfield Borough Council abolished.
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A reply by local government minister Luke Hall said the Government ‘will not impose top-down restructuring of local government and will continue to follow a locally led approach for unitarisation where councils can develop proposals which have strong local support’.

Coun Holmes described the development as ‘a major U-turn’ by the Government.

He said: "In the summer ministers made speeches indicating that abolition of boroughs and districts and the creation of vast unitary councils, would be a compulsory condition of releasing Government money to new region-wide mayors.

"Now they suggest that they will no longer insist on this. Or is that just until after next May's elections where they were scared of the backlash against their ill thought out plans?

Coun Paul Holmes.Coun Paul Holmes.
Coun Paul Holmes.
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"Will they change their mind again once the county council elections are out of the way?"

A total of 118 Liberal Democrat Councillors from across the East Midlands signed the letter which was co-authored by Coun Holmes and Hinckley and Bosworth Councillor Michael Mullaney.

Coun Mullaney said: “I welcome the news that the government will no longer force through unitaries where they aren’t wanted.

“Abolishing local boroughs and replacing them with large distant unitaries based on big counties will see the link between local people and their representatives severed.

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“People will feel much more distant from the decision making process if these plans go ahead.”

Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council both published rival plans for reorganisation, which involved both of them wanting to absorb the county's second tier district and borough councils, in September.

Councillor Barry Lewis, Derbyshire County Council leader, said the approach was vital to ensure Derbyshire was at the top of the pile as the Government seeks to level up the country.

Chesterfield Borough Council declined to comment.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Nancy Fielder, editor.