South Holland District Council leader Nick Worth warns people not to ‘panic’ over Local Government reforms as proposals for unitary authorities will go in

A district council leader says proposals for unitary authorities will be submitted in the coming months as he warned people not to ‘panic’.

South Holland District Council leader Coun Nick Worth said it is an ‘unsettling’ time after the Labour government announced plans to reorganise local authorities.

In the biggest reorganisation of local government in 50 years, district councils are being scrapped and unitary authorities covering populations of about 500,000 people created.

Coun Worth has previously stated that he felt county authorities are too large and would not have accountability to local people.

Speaking at a recent cabinet meeting, Coun Worth said: “It is almost certain that the Labour Government wants to get rid of district council and county councils and have a unitary in their place and have a ambitious time scales for achieving that.

“For elected members and staff there will be briefings in the early new year when we have more clarity in details around setting up a unitary.”

He went onto say that political leaders have two months to send outline proposals to create a unitary authority to the Government.

Coun Worth went onto say: “We will get more detail in January.

“The white paper doesn’t tell you a lot but the letters from the ministers give more clarity on that.

“It is quite an unsettling time for everyone. It is inevitable it was going to come. This is going to go through a proper process and not panic.

“There will be a massive amount of change but it will be handled professionally and the right channels. We will keep everyone informed as much as possible as we want at the end of the day is what is best for the people of South Holland.”