This is a thing round here right now.
In Northamptonshire we have a County Council which does stuff like Highways, Social Care/Services, Waste Disposal and some residual stuff for Education that's not now done by the Academies and Central Government Commissioners.
We also have eight District or Borough Councils within the County which do things like Planning, Household Rubbish and Housing. They are also the billing authority.
As has been well publicised Northamptonshire Council has been in a financial and organisational mess for years to the extent that it was technically bankrupt.
The Government's response has been to require that they are reorganised into two Unitary Authorities, North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. Each will be responsible for every service in its respective area. The theory is that they will be more efficient, only two (slimmed down) Senior Management structures, same with services like bins.
It's controversial with both main political parties. For those of us in the currently rural authorities like South Northants there's a perception we will lose influence over local stuff losing clout to interests of the urban areas which will potentially have more representation in the Unitary Council. This is particularly so in places close to town who are already threatened by urban spread - both housing and industrial/warehousing.
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Unitary Authorities in England new
Unitary Authorities in England new
