What's on Councillors' Minds
Local Representation at the Centre of LGR Discussions
As Gloucestershire takes the next step toward Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), many councillors across county and district levels focused on a key issue: how will local services and representation work at the neighbourhood level?
We recently received over 100 anonymised questions submitted by councillors during a series of all-member LGR briefings. The sessions presented two proposed models (a single UA and two-UA split), but it was clear that the majority of the highlighted questions shared a common theme: local identity, local service delivery and the future of place-based governance.
Councillors’ Key Questions
Some of the neighbourhood-related questions included:
“How can civic engagement and participative democracy be truly embedded?”
“Are Neighbourhood Area Committees likely to remain, or be abolished?”
“How will small, rural communities be empowered in a unitary structure?”
“What safeguards will exist for parish and town councils in the new place model?”
“What responsibilities will be delegated to the neighbourhood level?”
“What is the role of parish councils in the delivery of digital inclusion?”
These questions reflect concern for ensuring local voice, accountability, and capacity are preserved or enhanced in any new governance model.
What Was Said in Response?
During the briefings, panel members emphasised:
Neighbourhood/Place Models are a key design feature of any future authority and will be co-designed with communities.
The role of parish and town councils is central to ensuring neighbourhood-level decision-making and local accountability.
Digital transformation and inclusion will be supported at the neighbourhood level, including through Community Access Points (CAPs).
While the structure of any future area committees is yet to be decided, the principle of subsidiarity (local decisions made locally) will guide planning.
Proposals will not impose additional responsibilities on parish and town councils without consultation and appropriate support.
See the proposals and follow the latest updates at: http://www.futuregloucestershire.org.uk