HC Deb 03 February 1995 vol 253 cc907-10W
Mr. Tipping

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the value of bids he has received from local authorities in the Isle of Wight, Cleveland, Avon, Humberside and North Yorkshire for supplementary credit approvals in 1995–96 towards the cost of local government restructuring; and if he will name the local authorities involved and set out the amount of each bid.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

To information requested is set out.

SCA bids for 1995–96
£
Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight County Council 2,915,000
Avon
Avon County Council 5,540,000
Bath City Council 1,853,000
Bristol City Council 9,160,000
Northavon District Council 751,000
Kingswood Borough Council 890,000
Wansdyke District Council 872,000
Woodspring District Council 5,040,000
Cleveland
Cleveland County Council 4,475,000
Hartlepool Borough Council 3,787,000
Langbaurgh on Tees Borough Council 12,146,000
Middlesborough Borough Council 2,717,000
Stockton on Tees Borough Council 6,440,000
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire County Council 1,771,000
Ryedale District Council 160,000
Selby District Council 935,000
City of York Council 1,186,000
Humberside
Humberside County Council 11,336,000
Beverley Borough Council 1,119,000
Boothferry Borough Council 1,222,000
Cleethorpes Borough Council 796,000
East Yorkshire Borough Council 1,491,000
Glanford Borough Council 800,000
Great Grimsby Borough Council 1,332,000
Holderness Borough Council 731,000
Hull City Council 6,276,000
Scunthorpe Borough Council 928,000
Total 86,669,000

Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which bodies he has consulted under section 17 of the Local Government Act 1992 on(a) the Cleveland (Structural Change) Order, (b) the draft Avon (Structural Change) Order, (c) the draft Humberside (Structural Change) Order, (d) the draft North Yorkshire District of York (Structural Change) Order and (e) the draft Selby District (Boundary Change) Order.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

In all cases, we have consulted:

  • the principal local authorities;
  • Association of County Councils;
  • Association of District Councils;
  • Local Government Management Board;
  • Local Government Staff Commission (England);
  • National Association of Local Councils.

We have consulted the police authorities and the Lord Lieutenants on (a) to (c) and will do so on (d) when the relevant articles are prepared.

The Association of Chief Police Officers was consulted on (a) and (b) but has since indicated that it no longer wishes to be consulted.

We have consulted Ordnance Survey on (b) where maps are needed to illustrate new ward boundaries.

Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received the Local Government Commission's recommendations for Humberside and for Avon; on what date he announced his decision on these recommendations; and on what date he announced his intention to modify the recommendations to create new county areas.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

The Local Government Commission's recommendations for Avon and Humberside were received on 20 December 1993 and 24 January 1994 respectively. The Government's decisions were announced on 25 October 1994.

The structural change orders will make provision for county areas, coterminous with the new district areas which will have unitary district councils, in order to satisfy the requirements of the Local Government Act 1972; but those county areas will not have county councils and, with the exception of Bristol, will be deemed to be part of adjoining counties for ceremonial purposes.

Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has consulted the Audit Commission on the draft Humberside and Avon (Structural Change) Order.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

No.

Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what circumstances during the preliminary period a transfer authority will be legally allowed to prepare any budgets or plans, or to consult any person for purposes connected with the exercise on or after the reorganisation date, of any functions transferred by a structural or boundary change order made under section 17 of the Local Government Act 1992.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

The orders will remove the duties of transferor authorities where they relate to years subsequent to the reorganisation date. The orders will not prevent the authorities from continuing to work on these functions in co-operation with their successors.

Mr. Berry

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what will be the entitlement of an existing minerals and waste planning authority affected by structural change under the Local Government Act 1992 to be consulted during the preliminary period by a shadow unitary authority, or by a continuing authority granted corresponding powers regarding the future of minerals and waste planning in the area of the new authority;

(2) what will be the entitlement of an existing structure planning authority affected by structural change under the Local Government Act 1992 to be consulted during the preliminary period by a shadow unitary authority, or by a continuing authority granted corresponding powers regarding the future of strategic planning in the area of the new authority;

(3) what will be the entitlement of an existing social services department affected by structural change under the Local Government Act 1992 to be consulted during the preliminary period by a shadow unitary authority, or by a continuing authority granted corresponding powers regarding the future provision of social services in the area of the new authority;

(4) what will be the entitlement of an existing local education authority affected by structural change under the Local Government Act 1992 to be consulted during the preliminary period by a shadow unitary authority, or by a continuing authority granted corresponding powers regarding the future provision of education in the area of the new authority.

Mr. Robert B. Jones

Authorities which are inheriting functions will have the responsibility to prepare for the exercise of those functions. Those authorities, and the current holders of those functions, will have the duty to work and co-operate to ensure the successful transfer of functions.