---

Local Government Reorganisation

The estimate of the savings came from the work that the local authorities did themselves. I accept that there will be a great deal of work to be done through the process as we transition to these unitary authorities. But, quite frankly, I have worked in a two-tier authority in all my time in local government, and I think that the effort of going through the transition phase is well worth the endgame here: making sure that we have a system of unitary authorities right across the country; I know that the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, has done this exercise herself in her own council. They will be the building blocks for the devolution programme, as we continue to roll out devolution across the country.

The figures being provided for support for this process are: £1 million in funding for every new unitary council, £900,000 in capacity funding, and up to £150,000 of additional funding to support children’s services, adult social care and public health leadership. This is an investment to make sure that we have a consistent system of local government across the country and that those savings that councils have told us they can generate will occur.