§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what has been the total cost of local government reorganisation in each of the last five years(a) in each county area and (b) to his Department. [58741]
§ Ms ArmstrongResources in the form of Supplementary Credit Approvals (SCAs) are made available to reorganising authorities under the local government reorganisation costs scheme. The SCAs issued to each authority under the schemes for 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97 and the maximum amounts issued under the 1998–99 scheme are set out in the table.
The basis of the schemes for SCAs, which commenced in 1994–95 and will continue to 2000–2001, is that they are intended to assist authorities in the short term with the funding of their set up costs, until savings and receipts are realised. The borrowing covered by these approvals must be repaid over a period of ten years, under the terms of the scheme. Therefore, a true assessment of the cost, if any, of local government reorganisation will not be possible for a number of years. The Government's expectation was that, in the longer term, the benefits would offset the costs, although it is acknowledged that much depends on the approach of the individual authority for which they are accountable to their electorate.
We believe that SCAs will have covered the vast bulk of initial costs identified by authorities, under the bidding terms of the scheme, as unavoidable and arising directly from reorganisation.
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Local Government reorganisation costs schemes £000 1994–95 outturn 1995–96 outturn 1996–97 outturn Local authority Bid Allocation Bid Allocation Bid Allocation North Yorkshire County Council — — 2,055 1,400 402 402 Ryedale District Council — — 0 0 2— 0 Selby District Council — — 685 685 69 69 York City Council1 — — 3,912 3,548 3,145 3,145 Total for North Yorkshire Authorities — — 6,652 5,831 3,616 3,616 Total for 1995–96 Authorities 3,514 3,514 60,914 51,231 51,361 47,854 Bedfordshire County Council — — 86 0 2,157 1,900 Luton Borough Council — — 128 0 5,014 3,680 Total for Bedfordshire Authorities — — 214 0 7,171 5,580 Buckinghamshire County Council — — — 0 2— 0 Milton Keynes Borough Council — — 451 0 2,932 2,932 Total for Buckinghamshire Authorities — — 451 0 2,932 2,932 Derbyshire County Council — — — 0 1,909 1,900 Derby City Council — — 117 0 3,651 2,850 Total for Derbyshire Authorities — — 117 0 5,560 4,750 Dorset County Council — — — 0 2— 0 Bournemouth Borough Council — — — 0 3,005 3,005 Poole Borough Council — — 411 0 3,582 3,250 Total for Dorset Authorities — — 411 0 6,587 6,255 Durham County Council — — — 0 2— 0 Darlington Borough Council — — 237 0 4,430 4,430 Total for Durham Authorities — — 237 0 4,430 4,430 East Sussex County Council — — — 0 2,531 1,850 Brighton & Hove Council1 — — 158 0 9,172 4,800 Total for East Sussex Authorities — — 158 0 11,703 6,650 Hampshire County Council — — — 0 3,056 2,200 Portsmouth City Council — — 126 0 3,502 2,950 Southampton City Council — — 516 0 3,982 3,050 Total for Hampshire Authorities — — 642 0 10,540 8,200 Leicestershire County Council — — — 0 1,562 1,562 Leicester City Council — — 75 0 3,875 3,200 Rutland Council — — — 0 998 998 Total for Leicestershire Authorities — — 75 0 6,435 5,760 Staffordshire County Council — — — 0 5,238 2,000 Stoke on Trent City Council — — 147 0 4,109 2,950 Total for Staffordshire Authorities — — 147 0 9,347 4,950 Wiltshire County Council — — 28 0 1,620 1,350 Swindon Borough Council — — 362 0 6,323 3,000 Total for Wiltshire Authorities — — 390 0 7,943 4,350 Total for 1997 Authorities — — 2,842 0 72,684 53,857 Berkshire County Council — — — — 486 0 Bracknell Forest Borough Council — — — — 226 0 West Berkshire District Council — — — — 201 0 Reading Borough Council — — — — 150 0 Slough Borough Council — — — — 911 0 Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead — — — — 349 0 Wokingham District Council — — — — 2— 0 Total for Berkshire Authorities — — — — 2,323 0 Hereford & Worcester County Council — — — — 2— 0 Hereford City Council — — — — 2— 0 Leominster District Council — — — — 2— 0 Malvern Hills District Council — — — — 2— 0 South Herefordshire District Council — — — — 2— 0 County of Herefordshire District Council(s) — — — — — 0 Worcestershire County Council(s) — — — — — 0 Malvern Hills District Council(s) — — — — — 0 Total for Hereford & Worcester Authorities — — — — 0 0 Devon County Council — — — — 2— 0 Plymouth City Council — — — — 175 0 Torbay Borough Council — — — — 2— 0 Total for Devon Authorities — — — — 175 0 Essex County Council — — — — 2— 0 Southend on Sea Borough Council — — — — 2— 0 Thurrock Borough Council — — — — 423 0 Total for Essex Authorities — — — — 423 0 Nottinghamshire County Council — — — — 2— 0 Nottingham City Council — — — — 468 0 Total for Nottinghamshire Authorities — — — — 468 0 Cheshire County Council — — — — 2— 0
Local Government reorganisation costs schemes £000 1994–95 outturn 1995–96 outturn 1996–97 outturn Local authority Bid Allocation Bid Allocation Bid Allocation Halton Borough Council — — — — 2— 0 Warrington Borough Council — — — — 2— 0 Total for Cheshire Authorities — — — — 0 0 Shropshire County Council — — — — 2— 0 Telford & Wrekin Council — — — — 2— 0 Total for Shropshire Authorities — — — — 0 0 Kent County Council — — — — 2— 0 Gillingham Borough Council — — — — 2— 0 Rochester City Council — — — — 2— 0 Medway Council(s) — — — — — 0 Total for Kent Authorities — — — — 0 0 Cambridgeshire County Council — — — — 2— 0 Peterborough City Council — — — — 2— 0 Total for Cambridgeshire Authorities — — — — 0 0 Lancashire County Council — — — — 2— 0 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council — — — — 348 0 Blackpool Borough Council — — — — 2— 0 Total for Lancashire Authorities — — — — 348 0 Total for 1998 Authorities — — — — 3,737 0 Grand Total 3,514 3,514 63,756 51,231 127,746 101,711
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Local Government reorganisation costs schemes £000 1997–98 outturn 1998–99 mid year review Totals to date Local authority Bid Allocation Bid Allocation Bid Allocation Isle of Wight Council 2— 0 — — 3,723 3,723 Total 0 0 0 0 3,723 3,723 Cleveland County Council — — — — 5,726 3,169 Hartlepool Borough Council 1,462 1,400 1,178 720 9,445 8,218 Redcar & Cleveland Council 1,141 1,141 1,660 1,000 9,646 8,524 Middlesbrough Borough Council 1,968 1,800 2,286 2,284 11,289 9,388 Stockton on Tees Borough Council 2,135 1,800 1,796 1,646 11,327 10,341 Total for Cleveland Authorities 6,607 6,141 6,920 5,650 47,433 39,640 Avon County Council — — — — 3,098 2,910 Bristol City Council 1,095 1,095 1,268 1,268 9,860 8,682 North Somerset Council 1,188 1,030 652 652 8,156 7,979 Bath & North East Somerset Council1 1,674 1,674 1,490 1,280 9,351 9,141 South Gloucestershire Council1 1,194 1,194 830 830 8,234 8,234 Total for Avon Authorities 5,151 4,993 4,240 4,030 38,699 36,946 Humberside County Council — — — — 4,592 2,900 Kingston upon Hull Council 4,505 2,300 2,335 1,823 14,330 10,653 East Riding of Yorkshire Council1 1,989 1,989 4,259 4,259 19,297 17,702 North Lincolnshire Council1 2,086 1,800 3,288 3,288 11,499 10,999 North East Lincolnshire Council1 2,198 1,900 2,246 1,853 11,871 10,815 Total for Humberside Authorities 10,778 7,989 12,128 11,223 61,589 53,069 North Yorkshire County Council — — — — 2,457 1,802 Ryedale District Council — — — — 0 0 Selby District Council — — — — 754 754 York City Council1 2— 0 2— 0 7,057 6,691 Total for North Yorkshire Authorities 0 0 0 0 10,268 9,247 Total for 1995–96 Authorities 22,635 19,123 23,288 20,903 161,712 142,625 Bedfordshire County Council 971 971 — — 3,214 2,871 Luton Borough Council 3,667 3,575 1,973 1,973 10,782 9,228 Total for Bedfordshire Authorities 4,638 4,546 1,973 1,973 13,996 12,099 Buckinghamshire County Council 2— 0 — — 0 0 Milton Keynes Borough Council 3,000 3,000 2,918 2,250 9,301 8,182 Total for Buckinghamshire Authorities 3,000 3,000 2,918 2,250 9,301 8,182 Derbyshire County Council 575 575 — — 2,484 2,475 Derby City Council 2,950 2,950 1,835 1,602 8,553 7,402 Total for Derbyshire Authorities 3,525 3,525 1,835 1,602 11,037 9,877 Dorset County Council 2— 0 — — 0 0 Bournemouth Borough Council 2,900 2,900 828 650 6,733 6,555 Poole Borough Council 2,665 2,665 1,100 1,100 7,758 7,015 Total for Dorset Authorities 5,565 5,565 1,928 1,750 14,491 13,570 Durham County Council 2— 0 — — 0 0 Darlington Borough Council 2,317 2,317 1,478 1,193 8,462 7,940 Total for Durham Authorities 2,317 2,317 1,478 1,193 8,462 7,940
Local Government reorganisation costs schemes £000 1997–98 outturn 1998–99 mid year review Totals to date Local authority Bid Allocation Bid Allocation Bid Allocation East Sussex County Council 1,575 1,575 — — 4,106 3,425 Brighton & Hove Council1 4,825 4,000 1,775 1,407 15,930 10,207 Total for East Sussex Authorities 6,400 5,575 1,775 1,407 20,036 13,632 Hampshire County Council 2,350 2,350 — — 5,406 4,550 Portsmouth City Council 2,601 2,600 1,603 1,603 7,832 7,153 Southampton City Council 3,049 3,049 3,976 3,185 11,523 9,284 Total for Hampshire Authorities 8,000 7,999 5,579 4,788 24,761 20,987 Leicestershire County Council 1,369 1,145 — — 2,931 2,707 Leicester City Council 3,547 3,100 2— 0 7,497 6,300 Rutland Council 1,173 1,170 1,165 1,065 3,336 3,233 Total for Leicestershire Authorities 6,089 5,415 1,165 1,065 13,764 12,240 Staffordshire County Council 654 654 — — 5,892 2,654 Stoke on Trent City Council 3,518 3,378 1,549 1,348 9,323 7,676 Total for Staffordshire Authorities 4,172 4,032 1,549 1,348 15,215 10,330 Wiltshire County Council 400 400 — — 2,048 1,750 Swindon Borough Council 3,339 2,870 742 742 10,708 5,612 Total for Wiltshire Authorities 3,739 3,270 742 742 12,814 8,362 Total for 1997 Authorities 47,648 45,244 20,942 18,118 143,877 117,219 Berkshire County Council 7,093 6,500 — — 7,579 6,500 Bracknell Forest Borough Council 0 0 0 0 226 0 West Berkshire District Council 0 0 0 0 201 0 Reading Borough Council 5,025 4,900 7,461 3,281 12,636 8,181 Slough Borough Council 6,169 5,900 3,380 2,781 10,460 8,681 Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead 0 0 0 0 349 0 Wokingham District Council 5,019 4,900 2,300 2,262 7,319 7,162 Total for Berkshire Authorities 23,306 22,200 13,141 8,324 38,770 30,524 Hereford & Worcester County Council 2,300 2,300 — — 2,300 2,300 Hereford City Council 383 383 — — 383 383 Leominster District Council 266 266 — — 266 266 Malvern Hills District Council 0 0 — — 0 0 South Herefordshire District Council 481 481 — — 481 481 County of Herefordshire District Council(s) 2,670 2,670 6,391 5,155 9,061 7,825 Worcestershire County Council(s) 1,948 1,948 2,720 2,250 4,668 4,198 Malvern Hills District Council(s) 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total for Hereford & Worcester Authorities 8,048 8,048 9,111 7,405 17,159 15,453 Devon County Council 1,812 1,812 942 765 2,754 2,577 Plymouth City Council 2,900 2,900 9,450 9,450 12,525 12,350 Torbay Borough Council 3,504 3,500 6,397 6,396 9,901 9,896 Total for Devon Authorities 8,216 8,212 16,789 15,611 25,180 24,823 Essex County Council 2— — 2,683 2,683 2,683 2,683 Southend on Sea Borough Council 4,496 4,496 3,301 2,690 7,799 7,188 Thurrock Borough Council 2,481 2,481 3,502 3,067 6,406 5,548 Total for Essex Authorities 6,979 6,979 9,486 8,440 16,888 15,419 Nottinghamshire County Council 561 561 5,858 4,534 6,519 5,095 Nottingham City Council 3,710 3,700 4,430 3,920 8,608 7,620 Total for Nottinghamshire Authorities 4,271 4,261 10,388 8,454 15,127 12,715 Cheshire County Council 2,169 2,169 3,099 2,217 5,268 4,386 Halton Borough Council 2,825 2,825 3,004 2,832 5,829 5,857 Warrington Borough Council 3,321 3,320 3,013 2,934 6,334 6,254 Total for Cheshire Authorities 8,315 8,314 9,116 7,983 17,431 16,297 Shropshire County Council 1,625 1,544 1,540 994 3,165 2,538 Telford & Wrekin Council 3,870 3,835 4,788 4,143 8,658 7,978 Total for Shropshire Authorities 5,495 5,379 6,328 5,137 11,823 10,516 Kent County Council 3,200 3,200 884 752 4,084 3,952 Gillingham Borough Council 1,108 1,108 — — 1,108 1,108 Rochester City Council 0 0 — — 0 0 Medway Council(s) 3,262 3,260 6,455 5,674 9,717 8,934 Total for Kent Authorities 7,570 7,568 7,339 6,426 14,909 13,994 Cambridgeshire County Council 1,207 1,207 250 250 1,457 1,457 Peterborough City Council 3,400 3,400 2,061 2,061 5,461 5,461 Total for Cambridgeshire Authorities 4,607 4,607 2,311 2,311 6,918 6,918 Lancashire County Council 2,800 2,800 1,533 1,465 4,333 4,265 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council 3,597 3,590 3,607 3,349 7,552 6,939 Blackpool Borough Council 5,423 5,200 2,509 3,188 8,932 8,388 Total for Lancashire Authorities 11,820 11,590 8,649 8,002 20,817 19,592 Total for 1998 Authorities 88,627 87,158 92,658 79,093 185,022 166,251 Grand Total 158,707 151,525 136,888 118,114 490,611 426,095 1 Includes allocations to predecessor authorities 2 No bid