Member

Most of all, it will not save any money for the ratepayer. The counties and districts, the most efficient and local parts of government, will be merged, but then a new, more remote layer is being applied on top, with towns and parishes that were unconstrained on revenue-raising remaining. The Government are moving too quickly, and local people will pay for this devolution sleight of hand that will see us moving from three value layers to three expensive layers, while taking the electors for fools and playing fast and loose with democracy. I am not against local government reorganisation, but the Government need to remember that all the orders for their plans must pass through this place and, once bitten, this House will be twice shy.