Local Government U-turn - Our reaction

Like most people we were astonished by the announcement yesterday from Angela Rayner that the government was suspending plans to re-organise local government. That is the same Angela Rayner who announced the plans in the early days of the Labour government despite them not featuring in their election manifesto. Apparently the plans are all going to be reviewed and until such time as any conclusions are reached we will continue with the existing set up.

Liberal Democrat councillor Lee Parker who leads the coalition that runs Babergh council summed up our immediate reaction when he posted

"A chaotic climbdown, which has resulted in already cash-strapped councils wasting huge sums on plans the Government told them were legally watertight. 

Many local authorities, on the front line of delivering vital services such as adult social care and SEND support, were relying on this reorganisation to survive financially. Many are now left with nothing, potentially putting essential services and vulnerable people at risk.

Whatever this leaves us with, it's the opposite of certainty. 

Disappointing."