Rugby MP Mark Pawsey has questioned the need for discussions over a move towards a unitary authority in Warwickshire in Parliament following a public interest debate on the subject at a recent meeting of Warwickshire County Council.
During questions to the Secretary of State for Local Government, The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, Mark highlighted that Rugby Borough Council had frozen Council Tax for 5 consecutive years and will give a 3% rebate this year proving that it is a well run local authority whereas Warwickshire County Council is to raise its portion of the Council Tax bill by 1.99%.
Mark said:
“I appreciate the financial pressures that Warwickshire County Council is under but I do not believe that this is the right time to be discussing the potential for a unitary authority in the area.”
Mark commented:
“Conservative-led Rugby Borough Council is well run, provides quality services, and operates with the best interests of local taxpayers at heart. To have frozen Council Tax for 5 years is in itself a remarkable achievement but to offer a 3% rebate this year goes to show how an efficient, well-run council operates. It is clear that the Government is not in favour of the re-organisation of local Government so this debate is a distraction from the work Conservatives are doing at a local, and national level, clearing up the massive debt legacy left to this country by the last Labour Government.”
Responding to Mark’s question Eric Pickles labelled the decision by Warwickshire County Council to do further work on the merits of a move towards a unitary authority as a "fundamental waste of taxpayers' money."