THE leader of Lichfield District Council says a forthcoming decision on local government reorganisation must ensure local accountability.
A decision is expected from the Government this week on how new unitary authorities will be rolled out across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
A number of different options are on the table, including one backed by Staffordshire County Council which would see the creation of two new bodies. Under that proposal, Lichfield and Burntwood would find itself in with the likes of East Staffordshire, Tamworth, the Staffordshire Moorlands and financially-troubled Stoke-on-Trent.
However, Lichfield District Council has thrown its weight behind a smaller unitary alternative which would see it combine with just Tamworth and East Staffordshire.
The Government is expected to confirm which of the proposals it will look to proceed with before the Parliamentary recess on 16th July.
But as the district council faces criticism over a spiralling bill for a new cinema development, its leader Cllr Doug Pullen said the issue showed the need for truly local accountability.
He said:
"This week Staffordshire gets the announcement on local government reorganisation. For many months last year I was pushing, lobbying, arguing with almost every MP and council leader across southern Staffordshire for one outcome – three smaller unitary councils, not two giant ones.
"I'm grateful to Dave Robertson MP who backed this early on, before it was the popular or 'guided' position to hold, and one that went against his Government's guidance.
"I care deeply about local, accountable democracy.
"Right now, as Leader of Lichfield District Council, I'm under real pressure over the delayed cinema project. Questions in public meetings, scrutiny in the press, calls for resignation, people stopping me in the street to ask what is going on.
"It is genuinely uncomfortable and not a pleasant place to be in – but that is democracy actually working. You know exactly who to question and hold to account. Try doing that with a distant county authority covering a million people."
Cllr Pullen said the evidence for a smaller rather than larger unitary authority is clear for residents to see.
He added:
"Do you know who leads your county council, what their budget is, or one decision they made this year that affected your street?
"Struggling? That is exactly the problem I have spent months trying to fix.
"Small, local, visible councils mean leaders you can actually reach. That is worth fighting for, whatever shape reorganisation takes this week.
"Local should mean accountable. Let us hope we can keep it that way."
