Single council for Buckinghamshire welcomed

Buckinghamshire County Council has welcomed news that the government is ‘minded’ to replace the existing five councils across Buckinghamshire with a single council for the region.

The council is committed to working closely with the district councils and other partners to ensure a smooth transition to the new unitary council, which the authority says will provide required ‘modernisation’ and a ‘simpler system’ that offers better value and more joined-up services.

Such services include bin collections, waste disposal, planning and roads, which would be brought together under the single unitary council, resulting in more efficient services for residents.

Martin Tett, leader of the council, said: “It’s really positive news that the government is minded to support our proposals for a single unitary council. The new council will simplify the current local government setup, save many millions of pounds to plough back into frontline services and enable services to be provided for residents at a truly local level.

“We know there is widespread support for these proposals and we will continue talking with residents and a wide range of organisations across the county to ensure the new council benefits from their input and expertise as things develop. I’d encourage as many people as possible to let the government know their views. Together we can make a single unitary council happen, which will not only improve residents’ lives now, but crucially will create a Buckinghamshire that is fit and thriving for the future.”