Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to give guidance to local authorities on signing new commercial contracts where those local authorities are undergoing local government re-organisation and are soon to be abolished.

It is essential that councils developing proposals for reorganisation continue to deliver their business-as-usual services and duties, which remain unchanged up until such time as the reorganisation process is complete. This duty may include signing or renewing commercial contracts that deliver or support the delivery of statutory services. Until a decision about any new councils is made and legislation is in place councils are encouraged to consider voluntary arrangements to help balance the decisions needed now to maintain service delivery and ensure value for money for council taxpayers, with those key decisions that will affect the future success of any new councils in the area. Once legislation is in place establishing new unitary councils, then the Secretary of State may put in place a direction requiring that those councils to be dissolved must seek consent of the new council as specified in the direction before entering into certain contracts or land disposals. It would however make sense for contracts which are being agreed in this period to recognise and accommodate for the changes to local government coming through.