In the last two editions of BFP you have highlighted the recent study by Ernst and Young on behalf of Bucks Business First into the possible reorganisation of the Local Authorities in Buckinghamshire. For an outlay of £45.5 million in theory savings of £20.7 million per annum could be achieved.

Nobody disagrees with the principle of unitary authorities or one stop shops for the provision of local council services,but there is concern over the final shape of the Unitary and how it should be achieved in the most cost effective manner.

Under the proposal outlined and supported by Cllr Peter Cooper (BFP 24th October) services would be provided essentially by an enlarged Bucks County Council, which is currently the most ineffective of the five Bucks local Authorities. Just remember the state of the roads, failed Childrens’ Services, educational transport, school admissions, failure to provide effective grass cutting, the Wycombe Library, which has been empty for eight years and Bucks County Council still hasn’t decided how to dispose of it.

There is a lack of meaningful strategic planning. It closed two primary schools to the north of High Wycombe and now finds they have a shortage of places in the area! Cllr Martin Tett is desperate to cling to his empire and a rebadged Bucks County Council as a single Unitary Authority is the way to further his misguided ambition.

In the spirit of true localism it would be far more sensible to combine Chiltern District Council, South Bucks District Council and Wycombe District Council and allow Aylesbury Vale District Council to combine with Milton Keynes all taking over the current mismanaged activities of Bucks County Council.

Certainly the implementation costs could be far less, as the combining of services at Chiltern District Council and South Bucks has demonstrated over the past three years. Also the services provided would be more responsive to local needs and of a higher quality judging by the glaring failures of Bucks County Council. – Cllr Roger Colomb, Independent (Real Conservative), Terriers and Amersham Hill Ward, Wycombe District Council