Local Government Reform - A Greater Peterborough Council

I have mentioned Local Government Reform in my leaflets.

Basically, the Government has decided to reform local government around the country to get rid of what they call two-tier councils (i.e. those that have both District and County Councils) to create unitaries. They have asked councils to work together to come up with proposals. This is not easy - and within Cambridgeshire a number of proposals have emerged, but there are none that do not include Fenland (and therefore Whittlesey) being absorbed into Peterborough. The question is basically about whether East Cambs and/or Huntingdonshire are included.

I have some real concerns about us being included within a Greater Peterborough, the main one being that we will be lost within a council that big, especially given that our own District Council is so poor. I know that Peterborough often gets a bad press and has had some serious issues in the recent past, but I believe the lack of vision and ambition at Fenland is a much bigger issue.

There are a number of other concerns too:

• Debt and Council Tax. Fenland is currently debt free and we will end up being part of a council that has much bigger debt and higher council tax. So it is likely over time our Council Tax will increase. However, it is worth saying that it looks like Fenland are planning to borrow money in order to upgrade our leisure centres.

• Bigger councils increases the distance from the electorate. There is a danger that a new council will mean that the decision making comes across as less distant. The flip side is that you can put structures in place to deal with this, through local committees - I have been part of Peer Reviews at Councils that have merged and this issue has mostly been dealt with well. Whittlesey Town Council will also remain a statutory consultee on planning matters as well so that will help.

• Free Parking. I have always been a passionate supporter of Free Parking in Whittlesey and I am not sure how that would continue as part of a Peterborough that has paid parking. It is an issue that needs exploring.

• Planning and Housing. At the moment Fenland has abandoned its local plan process - which is how it identifies where development is going to happen in the next twenty-odd years. It basically leaves us with a planning system that favours any sustainable proposal of 250 homes or less with no real control and no ability to properly plan roads, schools, health provision etc. properly. Sadly, that will leave us at the whim of Peterborough, because there is no decent policy to fall back on to prevent development if it is deemed sustainable.

  
  

I am sure I can find others areas of concern However, it is worth stressing that not all will be bad, so it is worth mentioning a few of the positives.

• Economy. Economically Whittlesey is very closely linked to Peterborough with the majority of our residents working there - so bringing things together might be a help. Especially when it comes to roads (and cycle paths) where we have really struggled to get Peterborough to take the links with Whittlesey seriously. With the right voice, this will be something they can't ignore.

• Public Transport. Our buses and trains have not been good enough for some time and, along with bus franchising, and the introduction of new technology such as route optimisation, there is a real opportunity to sort this out for ever.

• Relief Road. As you may know, I support the relief road for Whittlesey. It is worth highlighting that Thorney benefited from its own, much needed relief road as part of Peterborough.

• Having less councils should reduce the amount of overheads used to manage some of our services and therefore save money. However, it is worth adding that Social Care is the area where most councils struggle and this will still be split between two councils, just with different boundaries, so there is nothing to be saved there.

The point here is that whilst it is absolutely right to be concerned and be sceptical, anyone that pretends it is all bad and nothing but doom and gloom is not telling the truth.

The big disappointment for me is that Fenland District Council are just remaining a silent partner, letting reorganisation happen to them, when other councils such as East Cambs and Huntingdonshire are open about where they stand and are actively campaigning for the solution that they think best suits them.