Kent and Shepway Councils Survive Local Government Re-Organisation: But For How Long?

Local Government Minister John Healey has 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. Kent remains unaffected by any of the changes, despite strong rumours early in the process that the County, and Shepway, could see huge changes to its Council structure.

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:

Councils Submitting Proposals

Proposed unitary structure:

• Bedford Borough Council: Bedford Unitary
• Chester City Council: 2 Unitary Cheshire
• Cornwall County Council: County Unitary
• Durham County Council: County Unitary
• Exeter City Council: Exeter Unitary
• Ipswich Borough Council: Ipswich Unitary
• Northumberland County Council: County Unitary
• Shropshire County Council: County Unitary
• Wiltshire County Council: County Unitary