Bluntly, we have too many layers of local government in England.
Merging the layers could result in significant savings for the Government. Back in 2020, analysis by the County Councils Network (CCN) revealed that single ‘unitary councils’ could reduce costs by more than £3bn over five years.
Different layers of administration
In my local area in Sussex, we have four layers of councils:
- The Lewes Town Council (equivalent to parish council in rural areas)
- Lewes District Council
- East Sussex County Council (and East Sussex Fire Authority)
- South Downs National Park Authority
On top of this, we have other bodies, such as the NHS, Transport for the South East (TfSE), Environment Agency, which concerns itself with issues such as the pollution in our rivers. Then there is National Highways responsible for motorways and trunk roads which run through the area, and the Sussex Police Commissioner. The role of Commissioner superseded the County Council Police Authority. Of all these bodies, only the Commissioner role is elected, all the others are managed by non-elected bodies. Oh, and in addition, some areas have ‘Combined Authorities’, which have elected mayors in addition to county and district councils!
We could do with slimming down some of these public bodies. The logical place to start is by abolishing county council and district councils and moving to a unitary council. It would get rid of some of the anomalies, such as highway maintenance being with the county, but road sweeping being the responsibility of district councils. Also, we currently have the silly situation that county councils are responsible for waste disposal and recycling, whereas district councils are responsible for waste collection and recycling!
The rise of unitary authorities
Both county and district councils rely heavily on the national government to fund local services. That won’t change. Services would just be delivered by the unitary council in East Sussex and the unitary council in West Sussex. This would reduce the number of councils from 14 to two, aside from Brighton & Hove City Council, which is already a unitary authority.
I’m not talking through my hat. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) there were 59 unitary authorities in England in 2022. This includes several former county councils, such as Cornwall, Dorset, Wiltshire and Somerset.
Services that would be combined are:
- Housing
- Education
- Adult Social Care
- Transport and traffic safety
- Road maintenance
- Planning
- Fire and public safety
- Libraries
- Rubbish and waste collection
- Recycling collection
- Waste disposal
- Trading standards
- Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
- Council tax collections
In praise of unitary authorities
Eliminating county councils in favour of unitary authorities can be justified on several grounds related to efficiency and streamlining governance, improving service delivery and increasing adaptability and ensuring modernisation.
Efficiency and streamlined governance
- Simplified Decision-Making: the need for co-ordination between county and district councils can lead to delays and bureaucratic inefficiencies. A unitary authority consolidates all local government functions into a single entity, streamlining decision-making processes.
- Reduced Bureaucracy: merging the two tiers of local government could result in reduced administrative costs, fewer layers of management and a more direct line of communication and accountability.
- Economies of Scale: shared services, such as IT systems, human resources, and procurement, can be more efficiently managed under a single authority.
- Lower Administrative Costs: a unitary authority would reduce administrative costs such as salaries for councillors and senior managers, office space and support services thus freeing up resources for frontline services.
Improved service delivery
- Consistent and Integrated Planning and Delivery: services such as transport, housing, education, and social care can be more effectively planned and delivered when managed by a single authority. This integration can lead to better outcomes and a more strategic and equitable approach to addressing local needs.
- Clear Lines of Accountability and Transparency: in a two-tier system, residents may be unsure which council is responsible for certain services, leading to confusion and frustration. A unitary authority provides a single point of contact for all local government issues, making it easier for residents to know where to get help. In turn, voters can hold their unitary authority more clearly to account for the quality of local services and overall governance.
Adaptability and modernisation
- Flexibility in Governance: unitary authorities are better positioned to adapt to changing circumstances and needs. They can implement reforms and innovations more quickly without the need for extensive coordination between different levels of government.
- Focused Strategic Vision: a single authority can develop and implement a coherent strategic vision for the area, aligning economic development, infrastructure projects, and social services more effectively than a fragmented two-tier system.
Initial challenges but better outcomes?
In summary, eliminating county councils in favour of unitary authorities can bring about significant benefits in terms of efficiency, cost savings, service delivery, accountability, and adaptability. While the transition may involve initial challenges and costs, the long-term advantages of a streamlined and unified local government structure can outweigh these concerns, leading to better outcomes for residents and more effective governance.
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