Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader of the Council

See attached letter from the Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government

Members considered a letter from the RH Robert Jenrick MP, Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government (MHCLG), in relation to the Government’s Levelling Up agenda regarding local government reorganisation.

The Chair advised Members that Bolsover District Council was probably the first Council in Derbyshire to debate the contents of the letter and that a representative from the BBC was present to film the debate.

The letter from the Robert Jenrick, followed on from the Prime Minister’s speech of 15^th July 2021, regarding the government’s intention to widen devolution beyond cities to counties, towns and villages, as they had promised in their pre-election manifesto.

The letter explained that the government did not want to or could not deliver full devolution alone and wanted to work with local government.  The Leader noted that in effect, the government was leaving it to local politicians to come to some arrangement.  The letter also stated that “not one size fits all, and no authority would be forced to wear a model that was ill fitting”.

The Leader noted that the government’s proposals for combined authorities was not new.  Members had discussed ‘Vision Derbyshire’ with Derbyshire County Council last year and had decided not to be involved.  Derbyshire County Council had now written to Robert Jenrick asking to be considered for inclusion in early discussions about county deals. 

‘Vision Bolsover’ was the Council’s attempt to shape the future but this depended on the decisions Members made today, either locally or nationally.  The Leader stated that Members may consider that what the Council wanted to achieve could only be possible by being part of a bigger authority, and Members may be right but there would be a price to pay and the Leader had asked Senior Management Team to analyse the pros and cons.

The Leader stated that Bolsover District Council wanted to help shape the future.  However, it would not help shape the future if it constantly waited for someone else to make the decision for it.  At the end of this debate there would hopefully be a clear idea of what Members’ stance was on local government reform.  The BBC was filming out of particular interest and Politics Today also had a particular interest in what Bolsover was doing.  Times may be difficult in some urban areas but the Leader felt that rationalising staff numbers would not overcome the difficulties and a faceless bureaucracy would not provide an efficient service to the tax payer - and that is what it was about - the people that Members represented.   

The Leader added that the debate on local government reform would also be communicated to residents via the Council’s In Touch magazine where they would be given an opportunity to comment in writing or via the Council’s website.

Councillor Duncan McGregor thanked the Leader for his words and his rallying call for Members to be proactive and take the initiative in shaping the future of Bolsover and its constituents.  Like the Leader, he also remembered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46