Councils overhaul not needed says leader of Telford & Wrekin Council

Control of key public services, including the NHS, should be handed to 38 super councils across England, according to a new report published today by the independent think-tank Reform.

But the leader of Telford & Wrekin Council says there is no need for reform of local authorities, but instead there needs to be a change in the culture of the NHS.

The research group argues that its plan could reduce the so-called postcode lottery of care and its authors identify £108 billion of annual public services spending that could be devolved.

The report argues that local government should take control of £102 billion of health spending, accounting for 95 per cent of the NHS’s budget, because different areas have widely differing health needs.

The report recommends that local government itself should also change. It proposes that services should be devolved to combined authorities, on the model of Manchester or the West Midlands, or unitary authorities such as Cornwall.

That will require 353 English councils, to be replaced or overseen by unitary or combined authorities.

A total of 38 new local government areas would cover 1.5 million people on average and manage an extra £2.8 billion of annual spending.

But Councillor Shaun Davies, leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said “Combined authorities cover large areas and make big collective decisions taking into account the needs of an entire region.

“However, most actions and decisions are taken by local councils who know their patches and have strong local democratic accountability to their communities. We do not believe that big changes in the structures of local authorities are required. However what is needed is a change in the culture of the NHS so that there is more accountability and better decision making.”

“For example, it doesn’t make sense to attempt to close a Women and Children’s Centre after it has only been open three years.

“Councils run lots of preventative services to help and encourage people to lead healthy lifestyles and cuts to these lead to people living less healthy lives and suffering more sickness and illness that results in them going to the NHS for treatment.

“We would like to see a more coherent government strategy that funds the right services to keep our communities healthier and reduce inequalities. The government has even cut councils’ supposedly “ring fenced” public health grant.”

Shropshire Council leader, Peter Nutting, was also approached for comment.

Alexander Hitchcock, co-author of the Reform report, said: “Recent Governments have rightly banged the drum for the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine. But Economic growth and public-sector reform are two sides of the same coin, which is why councils need more power to improve public services.”

Elenora Harwich, fellow co-author, said: “These proposals would help the country move away from postcode lotteries and give everyone a fairer chance of receiving services tailored to their needs.”