John Harris correctly recognises that “England’s 14 regional and metro mayors are right to see a growing opportunity for a civic political renaissance”, but justifiably points out how areas remain excluded from the new arrangements, or are at best a poor fit (Cities are the big winners in Burnham’s devolution drive. But what happens to the rest of England?, 30 August).
Allowing for a further batch of city region-based authorities over half of England’s population does not suit this model. Where are the city regions and “strategic authorities” in most of rural Devon, Surrey, Hertfordshire and much of Kent and Essex?
If Andy Burnham goes ahead with the local government reorganisation (LGR) he inherited from Steve Reed, we will be faced with vast tracts of non-place authorities with names such as Devon Coast and Countryside and North West Essex, which do not make sense as strategic authorities. They are what remain when the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has completed its long-term aspiration of reducing the number of English councils and councillors.
We estimate that when this LGR is completed, 90% of councillors and 75% of councils across England could have disappeared, eliminating almost all authorities based on real places and communities. Germany, with its Basic Law, much admired by Mr Burnham, operates with about 11,000 municipalities in a tiered county-municipality structure, and retains municipalities based on real places. The equalisation elements of the Basic Law, which sparks the PM’s interest, have been achieved without the introduction of huge anonymous unitary councils across Germany. England already has the largest units of local government across Europe; nothing is to be gained from making them larger and more anonymous.
Steve Leach Emeritus professor of local government, De Montfort University; Colin Copus Emeritus professor of local politics, De Montfort University
