Invalid Poll for Unitary Status?

12.00.00am GMT Mon 8th Jan 2007

Electoral Reform Services have just sent out ballot papers on behalf of Bridgnorth District Council, to ask residents whether they support a single Unitary Authority for Shropshire. Telford & Wrekin Council already has unitary status, and received an Excellent rating in its recent assessment as one of the best councils in the country. (Bridgnorth only got a 'Fair' rating!) There are only two choices on the Bridgnorth ballot paper, and one of these is not even a viable option!

Option A is "to continue the current arrangements of County and District Councils". Yet the Chief Executive's Report to the Council Meeting on 22 November 2006 stated (para 4.9.4) that "the Government has made it clear that no change is not an option." And under para 6.6 of the same report, any proposals for continuing a two-tier system "must be submitted by the partnership of a county council and all the district councils in the county area", and as this support is not available, "this option cannot be pursued." The public need to know this fact before voting.

The side of the sheet putting the Bridgnorth District Council case (although the council vote was equally divided) has bullet points and bold headings to draw attention to its "key" statements. The back (Option B) is one solid mass of "selected extracts", with an invitation to find the full document on the County Council website. No details on this side stand out, and therefore a balanced view has not been presented fairly. Not surprising really, as those given the task of preparing the information had all voted against the unitary option on 22 November.

One of several examples of misleading the public on Option A: "We are concerned that services will be moved to Shrewsbury with no face to face contact at local level …" Yet the White Paper emphasises that its aim is "to give local people and local communities more influence and power to improve their lives. It is about creating strong prosperous communities and delivering better public services …" The ultimate convergence of "partnership working" is ONE authority for Shropshire, which eliminates innumerable meetings, compacts, and administration costs.

The unitary option offers residents of Bridgnorth District the opportunity to shape future local governance for the benefit of all the people of Shropshire, and give us a stronger voice against a City Region based in Birmingham. It is to be hoped that Bridgnorth households will not support the District Council's "head in sand" attitude, and vote in large numbers for a unitary solution!