THE leaders of all four of Bedfordshire's councils have written to MP Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, backing the case for a unitary future.
The Government is currently consulting with stakeholders on two proposals – one from Beds County Council that would see them take overall control of the whole county, and one from South Beds and Mid Beds District Councils that would see a Central Bed
fordshire Council formed in partnership with Bedford Borough Council, and Beds County Council becoming
defunct.
In the letters, the leaders state: "We are unanimous in our view of the need for unitary government in Bedfordshire instead of the current two-tier system.
"We do not consider that continuing with the status quo for this relatively small area is a viable and economic option for the delivery of local government in Beds, and is not in the best interest of our communities."
They have also urged Ms Kelly not to make any changes to local authority boundaries.
John Ruddick, chief executive of South Beds District Council, said: "South Beds District Council believes that two unitary authorities in the shire – one covering South Beds and Mid Beds, 'Central Bedfordshire', and the other in Bedford itself – is the best way forward.
"The joint submission by South and Mid Beds to the Secretary of State argued that a new unitary authority of 'Central Bedfordshire', which complemented the unitary bid by Bedford Borough Council, both offered services locally and would also achieve significant savings and efficiencies."
