Council shake-up 'could create rich and poor divide'

Creating two super councils across Gloucestershire could lead to a rich and poor divide across the county, some councillors have said.

Local government is set to undergo a once-in-a-generation transformation as its seven district and county councils are replaced with either one or two "super authorities".

But there are concerns that if the county splits into two authorities, this will create a wealth divide across the area.

Under the proposals, councils on the west side would start with a £23m financial deficit, while those in the east would have a £20m surplus.

Whether the area is split into one or two "super authorities" could ultimately be decided by central government.

And while all politicians agree the focus needs to be on the most efficient and fair outcome for residents, they're split on how this should look.

One or two?

The most popular idea is the creation of a single council which would cover the whole of the county, a model which has been endorsed by the county council and Tewkesbury Borough Council.

During a BBC Radio Gloucestershire debate on the subject, Conservative group leader at the county council, Stephen Davies, said a single authority makes the most financial and geographic sense.

"It's cost effective, it follows what we deliver today in terms of adult social care, children's service and the fire service, and it solves problems like one authority picking up the rubbish and another disposing of it," he added.

While this option carries the lowest cost, Labour councillors and some Liberal Democrats say a single council would be too large and would not adequately represent all residents.

They prefer splitting the county into two to create East Gloucestershire – made up of Cheltenham, the Cotswolds and Tewkesbury – and West Gloucestershire – encompassing Gloucester, Stroud and the Forest of Dean.

The split would mean the West council would start with a financial deficit of £23m, compared with the East, which would have a £20m surplus.

Some councillors have likened this plan to creating a rich and poor divide for the county.

But councillor Karen James, deputy Labour group leader at Gloucester City Council, said this disparity would level out over time and claimed the "two sides of the county are very distinctly different" and would therefore the creation of two councils would work well.

"In Gloucester and the Forest of Dean you're looking at urban renewal and clean energy, and across in Cheltenham you're looking at cyber security and the Cotswold villages," she added.

This option has been endorsed by Cheltenham Borough Council.

Gloucester Donut

The final proposal, the Greater Gloucester model – colloquially known as the Gloucester Donut – would see the city of Gloucester and its surrounding parishes made into one authority, with the rest of the county making up a second.

This is being championed by the Liberal Democrat leader of Gloucester City Council, Jeremy Hilton, who claims the city needs a council to tackle its specific demands.

During the debate he said: "[Gloucester] has been around for 2,000 years. It's the reason Gloucestershire is here, it had its own council before 1974, to suggest it has [no council] is ridiculous."

Gloucestershire's councils have until 28 November to submit their preference to central government, and it is expected the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will reveal its decision in the summer.