
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.
The removal of the precept, a virtually guaranteed source of income, could well lead to greater fiscal prudence.
A single unitary model has worked well in those areas that have adopted it in recent years, including Dorset, Wiltshire, and Buckinghamshire.
I welcome the suggestion that local Associations should follow the lead that the National Convention took last weekend.
There is a very short space of time to set this new council up. Decisions on the new arrangements must be made locally.
Remember where we are; remember what has come down to us. Our unique heritage is there to be opened up.
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.
A super council would make decision-making more remote; the natural division provided by the Chiltern Hills should be recognised.
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.
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.
This would both save money and provide a better focus on local communities.
Innovation has included joint working with the ambulance service