'Keep Local Government Local' say Lib Dems

3.02.39pm GMT Sat 6th Jan 2007

Lib Dem County Councillors are calling on the council to reject plans for a single unitary council for Northamptonshire and to ensure that local government in Northamptonshire stays genuinely local.

'Local government in our County needs to change' said Lib Dem group leader Richard Church. 'The County Council needs to work with its colleagues in the Borough and District councils to improve the effectiveness of public services and to improve democratic accountability. A single council for the whole of Northamptonshire will be remote and over centralised. The County Council is holding a gun to the heads of the district and borough councils by threatening them with abolition if it does not get its way. That is high handed and arrogant. It is not the way for a council that talks of working with its partners to behave.

'The County Council needs to develop a positive working relationship with its colleagues to agree a way forward. We hope that could involve a new unitary council for Northampton, but whatever happens it must involve better working relationships to cut waste and duplication and provide clear democratic accountability for public services in our County.

'The future structure of local government cuts across party political boundaries. We will seek to work with colleagues from either of the other parties to reject a remote and centralised single council for the whole of Northamptonshire and develop working arrangements that show proper regard for local boroughs and districts of our county. Let's keep Local Government Local'