HC Deb 01 May 2002 vol 384 cc809-10W
Tim Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he expects to lay regulations enabling local authorities to switch to alternative year elections where they have reduced the number of councillors representing wards from three to two. [53266]

Dr. Whitehead

[holding answer 29 April 2002]: In the White Paper, "Strong Local Leadership—Quality Public Services" the Government said that they would invite the

Total external support, 2002–03
£ million
Waverley Area Bracknell Forest UA area
Waverley Surrey County Council Surrey Police Authority1 Bracknell Forest Unitary Authority Thames Valley Police Authority2
Revenue support grant 0.579 143.921 1.525 22.784 24.425
Redistributed non-domestic rates 4.866 287.019 26.916 34.180 52.997
Ring-fenced grants inside AEF3 0.174 102.080 5.257 9.139 n/a
Police grant 0 0 54.443 0 122.387
Total revenue support 5.619 533.020 88.141 66.103 n/a
Basic credit approvals 0 35.604 0 0.116 0
Supplementary credit approvals 0 11.614 n/a 11.614 3.152
Grants from central Government 0.299 9.479 n/a 2.522 0
National lottery 0 0 n/a 0.071 0
Total capital support 0.299 56.697 n/a 14.323 3.152
Total external support 5.918 589.717 n/a 80.426 n/a
n/a = not available
1 Surrey Police Authority have not yet returned their capital estimates return form.
2 Thames Valley Police Authority have not yet returned their general fund revenue account form.
3 Aggregate external finance (AEF) is central Government support towards total standard spending. It comprises revenue support grant, redistributed non-domestic rates, and certain ring-fenced grants.

Sources:

2002–03 General Fund Revenue Account and Capital Estimates returns

Local Government Finance Final Settlement

Electoral Commission to propose options to simplify the current cycle of local elections. Meanwhile, we will, before the summer recess make regulations under Part IV of the Local Government Act 2000 to introduce elections by halves in a number of authorities that following periodic electoral reviews have two-member wards, and have requested such a change.