Local Government Reorganisation
Debate between Angela Rayner and Max Wilkinson(2Â weeks, 1Â day ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Angela Rayner
I reassure the Member that I am going to review those issues and make sure that I am confident in the decision that is made, including within the boundaries, to ensure that any decisions that are made are the right ones. I will update him, and work with him and other Members to ensure they have that clarity. We might not agree, but I will make sure that I have listened and that I at least know where I am going and make the decision confidently.
Max Wilkinson (Cheltenham) (LD)
I was not in favour of the decision announced by the right hon. Lady’s predecessor before the summer break for a single unitary Gloucestershire. I would have preferred something more Cheltenham-centric. However, that decision seems to reflect the political consensus across the parties in Gloucestershire, so I have to ask the Secretary of State: is she in the business of overturning the political consensus across party locally in Gloucestershire? If not, will she just let us get on with it so that the councils can get on with doing the things that my residents want, including ensuring that there are no unwanted cuts to fire services because of cuts from Westminster to our budgets, that the town centre in Cheltenham is fixed up and that we get a tip reopened for Cheltenham? Those are the things my residents want. They are not so bothered about boundaries, even if they are concerned about Cheltenham losing its historic voice.
Angela Rayner
This is not about overturning or overpowering local decisions. This is about me reviewing these decisions and making sure that there is a robust system that says, “This is where we want to go”, and taking that forward. I hope to do that within a matter of weeks—not too long a process—and to get it right. That is fundamentally the first and foremost point: I want to get it right for the hon. Gentleman’s constituents so that they can get on and get the things that they absolutely want and desire.