District 'fighting for survival' (From Witney Gazette)

District 'fighting for survival'

2:10pm Tuesday 13th February 2007 in Witney By Tim Hughes

WEST Oxfordshire District Council has written to Ruth Kelly opposing unitary authority plans because it will lead to higher council tax bills.

The Leader of West Oxfordshire District Council, Barry Norton, says council tax bills will soar as a result of any move towards unitary status.

Mr Norton said the authority was 'fighting for its survival', and he has written a letter to Ruth Kelly, the Minister for Communities and Local Government, on behalf of the council, outlining objections to proposals to reorganise local government in the county.

The plans, submitted by Oxford City Council, propose the removal of the current county and district tiers of government, replacing them with three new unitary councils.

This could see the joining of West Oxfordshire with Cherwell; the Vale of White Horse with South Oxfordshire, and Oxford City Council as a single unitary authority. Oxford City Council has estimated the costs of setting up a unitary system to be in the region of £27.1m. But Oxfordshire County Council has calculated the cost of establishing three unitary authorities as more than £53.8m, with ongoing costs of £18.5m.

Mr Norton, who lives in North Leigh, said council taxpayers would shoulder the cost - with the amount charged by the district more than doubling, from £68 for a typical three-bedroom (band D) home, to £140.

He said the council would also have to eat into its £50m savings to pay for the change.

Mr Norton said: "I'm angry about this. West Oxfordshire is known as a good council. It is low-charging, and a nice place to live.

"But this move is going to be hugely costly for council taxpayers. It will lead to poorer services, less democratic representation, and will see the district's identity disappear.

"We are fighting for our survival. We've striven to make the district one of the best possible places to live in the country, and want to continue.

"This proposal will stop us doing that.

"This would be bad news for West Oxfordshire residents. Council tax is very low, currently the second lowest in England, and we are concerned that our residents would have to pay much higher district council tax. We know theirs (Cherwell's) council tax would go down, and ours would go up."

He added: "Local accountability and democracy is also at stake. The identity of the district we know and love would disappear. There would inevitably be fewer councillors supporting more than 160 local town and parish councils."

West Oxfordshire district and Witney town councillor David Harvey agreed, saying: "I'm very concerned about this. There are going to be winners and losers - and West Oxfordshire would be a loser, to a significant sum of money."

He said the proposals also led to 'huge insecurities' among council staff.

Last month, Cherwell District Council voted overwhelmingly to support the concept of a unitary authority for North Oxfordshire, and sent a letter to Ruth Kelly supporting the bid.

Speaking after the Cherwell District Council meeting, its executive leader, Barry Wood, said: "I have no doubt that this would be the best form of local government for the people of northern Oxfordshire.

"It is vital that we seize this opportunity to demonstrate to the Government that a unitary structure has support outside Oxford City, and that we are very comfortable with the City's proposal for just three councils in Oxfordshire, that would be responsible for all main local government services."