Cabinet press release

Cabinet statement on the Local Government White Paper

This afternoon, the County Council’s Cabinet approved the following resolution:

a)      that the County Council will not be making a bid for unitary status by the Government deadline of 25 January, 2007;

b)      that the County Council welcomes assurances from Oadby and Wigston Borough Council, on behalf of all the district councils, that they want to work together with the County Council and other partners to improve the two-tier system of local government;

c)      that the County Council accordingly looks forward to working with the district councils who have a major role to play in delivering the substantial efficiency savings required by the white paper, “strong and prosperous communities” and which the Council Taxpayers and Leicestershire residents expect.

County council leader David Parsons said: “Since the white paper came out, we have been working very hard in partnership with the district councils to deliver all the potential benefits.

“We met the districts last week, when they said they were more than willing to co-operate with the county council to make local government in Leicestershire more efficient and make the savings that residents expect.

“It’s in that spirit that the county council wants to start off on a new footing with the districts.”

For interviews with Mr Parsons, please contact 0116 265 6111.

Ends

Press release issued: December 19 2006