Harry Fone: Parish councils can waste money too

The removal of the precept, a virtually guaranteed source of income, could well lead to greater fiscal prudence.

Faye Purbrick: Don’t split Somerset in half

A single unitary model has worked well in those areas that have adopted it in recent years, including Dorset, Wiltshire, and Buckinghamshire.

Mark Francois: The voluntary party must now save us from ourselves

I welcome the suggestion that local Associations should follow the lead that the National Convention took last weekend.

Katrina Wood: Government meddling is making unitary status for local government in Buckinghamshire harder to achieve

There is a very short space of time to set this new council up. Decisions on the new arrangements must be made locally.

Rupert Barnes: Let’s do more to celebrate our historic counties

Remember where we are; remember what has come down to us. Our unique heritage is there to be opened up.

Martin Tett: A single county-wide unitary council for Buckinghamshire would achieve the greatest savings

The public finds it hard to get excited about the structure of local government – they just want good quality, value for money, services delivered from accessible locations.

Katrina Wood: New local unitaries, backed by the public, are the way forward in Buckinghamshire

A super council would make decision-making more remote; the natural division provided by the Chiltern Hills should be recognised.

If more Cabinet members had won their seats from Labour, perhaps it would leak just a little bit less

Maybe it was ever thus, at least in modern times, but Tory-held suburban seats outside the South-East are under-represented at the top table.

Technical education. Who’s right – Gove or Baker?

The reality is that most of it will be concentrated on pupils older than 16 – whatever the best age may be at which to select.

Katrina Wood: Two separate unitary councils is the best deal for Buckinghamshire

This would both save money and provide a better focus on local communities.

Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority to cut Council Tax precept

Innovation has included joint working with the ambulance service