Creating Central Beds

“This is excellent news and the real job starts now,” said Tricia Turner, Leader of Mid Beds District Council upon the announcement made today [6th March 2008] that two new unitary councils will be set up in Bedfordshire to take on the services of the three existing districts and county council.

Two new unitary councils will be created: Central Bedfordshire covering the Mid Beds and South Bedfordshire areas and a separate unitary council for Bedford Borough. Both of these councils would deliver all existing services including those currently run by the County Council in their areas.

Central Bedfordshire would provide services like Social Services, Planning, Education, Waste collection and recycling, Highways and Environmental Health.  Almost all the existing staff will continue to provide these services with efficiency savings being made by going from four councils to two, saving money on management, administration, premises, contracts and supplies.

The new Central Bedfordshire unitary council will officially come into being on 1st April 2009 and a transitional body will be formed soon to begin the work of bringing the three councils together. It will include four councillors from each of the three authorities, selected to match current political representation.

Cllr Turner went on: “We are clearly looking forward to a challenging year. Bringing together three councils to create a single new Central Bedfordshire unitary authority will present both challenges and opportunities. Councillors and staff are prepared for these and look forward to delivering a successful outcome."

“For me, success will mean a smooth transition from Mid Beds to Central Beds, with the least disruption to service delivery for our residents."

“Success for the new Council must mean that all involved have a total commitment to the new authority, and hold dear the values that matter most to us - delivering excellent services; providing value for money for our residents; working creatively and successfully with our partners; ensuring we continue to charge a low Council Tax; and remaining a Council that listens to its residents and is prepared to consider the needs of the individual.”

ENDS

Further information:

Central Bedfordshire Council will be the heart of the county, covering some 1,000 square kilometres (105,000 hectares), and stretching from Dunstable and Leighton Linslade in the west to Sandy and Arlesey in the east. Central Beds’ population is now almost 250,000 and is forecast to continue growing over the next fifteen years.

Its headquarters will be at Chicksands and Dunstable with four Points of Presence in Ampthill, Biggleswade, Houghton Regis and Leighton Linslade.
Elections for the new council are likely to be held in May 2009.

There has been concern over the effect of the change upon local services, however in their paper “An Approach to Implementation” the government clearly state that:

“We are clear that between 80% and 90% of staff in affected authorities will transfer to the new local authority, principally staff dealing directly with the public whose services would continue to be required regardless of reorganisation or the identity of the employing authority."

“In the last reorganisation, these staff were defined . . . as “Employees who deliver services direct to the community or the major part of whose work involves regular and substantial contact with members of the community”. . . examples of such staff . .  included:

  •  teachers and ancillary staff working in specific schools and other educational establishments;
  • supply teachers (if on permanent contracts) and peripatetic teachers normally working in specific schools or groups of schools;
  • museum art and library employees;
  • area social workers;
  • other social services staff providing services direct to clients in particular areas e.g. meals on wheels or home helps;
  • development and building control officers;
  • environmental health and Trading Standards Officers;
  • housing officers on estates;
  • housing benefit employees dealing directly with the public;
  • employees dealing with billing and collection of revenue; and
  • employees dealing with local land charges.

“…where such direct service staff transferred immediate managers and any clerical, admin and support staff wholly engaged in supporting those services and reporting to those managers should also transfer.”

(Councils’ Proposals for Unitary Government: An Approach to Implementation paragraphs 111-113)

For further information contact:

Mark Hustwitt, Communications Manager on 01462 611014 (office), 07967474285 (mobile), or e-mail mark.hustwitt@midbeds.gov.uk

Catherine Ruvolo, Communications Officer on 01462 611006 (office) 07967 474311 (mobile) or e-mail Catherine.ruvolo@midbeds.gov.uk