Merger plans a 'threat to democracy', council boss
BBCProposals to streamline local government are a "threat to democracy", a district council leader has warned.
Bridget Smith, the Liberal Democrat head of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said she fears plans to merge councils could be the "beginning of the end" of "truly local government".
Smaller district councils and larger county councils could be combined under government proposals published this week.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the new combined authorities would be better placed to tackle issues affecting wider areas.
Smith said local people "don't care" about the level of local government complexity, as long as services are being delivered.
She added that local politicians working hard for their community for relatively low pay should be "celebrated".
Other council leaders are also worried about the proposals in the government's English Devolution White Paper.
The government said it would invite council leaders across the country to put forward proposals for new unitary authorities - expected to represent at least 500,000 people - to replace two-tier systems.
Anna Bailey, East Cambridgeshire District Council's Conservative leader, said the thought of potentially being "lumped in with a failing authority" is "just horrifying".
Bailey said rural councils are "completely different" to city councils and have a unique understanding of a locality.
In Cambridgeshire, the county council covers everywhere except Peterborough, which is under the separate authority of Peterborough City Council.
The five districts with lower-tier authorities include South Cambridgeshire, East Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Fenland and the city of Cambridge.
The Cambridgeshire County Council leader, Liberal Democrat Lucy Nethsingha, said she can "see the argument" for reducing the number of councils in some areas in order to simplify local government.
But she said she would be "sad to see a significant reduction in the number of councillors serving local communities".
The government has said it recognises the "vital role of local councillors", but that its plans will "ultimately lead to fewer politicians and a more efficient state".
Dennis Jones, the Labour leader of Peterborough City Council said reorganising local government was "long overdue".
But he added that the "devil will be in the detail".
Upper-tier local authorities look after services including fostering and adoption, adult social work and social care and school transport.
District councils are responsible for council tax payments, bin collections, leisure, housing benefits and planning.
There is already some overlap between the districts - South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council share waste services.
The region's mayor also has oversight of transport, skills and the environment.
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