Council power devolved (From Gazette Series)

Council power devolved

THE FUTURE of Stroud District Council may hang in the balance after plans to review local government structures were announced.

Under the "double devolution" programme, the government could give more power to local authorities and communities, moving away from the current county and district council system.

Local Government Minister David Miliband outlined the programme during a recent visit to Gloucester - promising to discuss the issue with local groups before committing to any reform.

Cllr Chas Fellows, leader of Stroud District Council, responded this week but said the matter must be debated before he would issue a full statement.

He said: "This is such an important issue that it needs to be discussed by the whole council.

"The cabinet will consider a report by officers at the end of the month and then discuss it at the next full council in April."

Under the proposals, the current system could be reformed in different ways. One idea would be to centralise power in a Gloucester-based authority with additional responsibilities given to parish councils.

Another proposal could see Gloucestershire split into an eastern authority - encompassing Cheltenham, Cotswolds and Tewkesbury and a western body of Forest, Gloucester and Stroud alongside parish bodies.

This could reduce policy anomalies like waste disposal, which is provided by both county and district councils.

Peter Bungard, chief executive of Gloucestershire County Council, said: "We have not taken any position on becoming a unitary authority and have received no instructions from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) on this matter. "We will however be following the debate with great interest."

The government has stressed that further discussions will be held before decisions are made. These will include regional and county dialogues like Mr Miliband's recent visit.

The ODPM is set to release a White Paper in the summer outlining its proposals. A spokesman said: "We are keen to produce quality, efficient local governments that people can engage in and feel a full part of.

"We encourage them to express their views on the subject."