News Release

9th May 2002

LOCAL GOVERNMENT RE-ORGANISATION IN THE WEST MIDLANDS

Following the Deputy Prime Minister's statement (John Prescott) in the House of Commons at 12.30 today (9th May) when he said that in those regions planning to hold a referendum for an elected Regional Assembly there will be a review of local government structures and that there should be "a fully unitary system of local government", Michael Fabricant says "This move will take power further away from local people".

Michael explains: "A unitary authority structure envisaged by John Prescott would mean the dissolution of Staffordshire County Council and the creation of a unitary authority in which Lichfield and Burntwood would be just a part. Lichfield District Council would be considered too small to form a unitary authority taking on some of the work of the County, so it would have to be merged with other authorities such as Tamworth and South East Staffordshire which includes Burton. Local Government headquarters will inevitably move away from Lichfield to either Tamworth or Burton of further. Meanwhile, real power would lie with the Regional Assembly in Birmingham. This would inevitably lead to local money and power being sucked into the big city conurbation of Birmingham and the Black Country.

"Even though it is Labour controlled, I believe Staffordshire County Council has fought hard for extra resources from this Government. I have not always agreed with the County's priorities, but the Council has put Staffordshire first. This would not be the case with a Regional Assembly based in the centre of Birmingham or a weakened local authority based away from Lichfield and Burntwood.

"I now call on local District and County councillors whether they be Labour, Liberal, independent, or Conservative to join me and stand up for the rights of local people to have truly local government.

"All the campaigns to stop building on land between Lichfield and Sutton Coldfield and other areas to stop Lichfield becoming part of a grey amorphous city with Birmingham City Hall at its centre will come to nought if this change comes through".

It is interesting to note that the Government White Paper on these changes contains a map on page 74 showing the huge West Midlands Region which would be governed by the Assembly. Lichfield and Burntwood are omitted from the map even though smaller towns such as Rugeley are shown. "It's as if the Government want to wipe Lichfield and Burntwood off the political map; not just metaphorically, but literally too!" adds Michael Fabricant.