Key partner organisations support One Council for Shropshire

Press release - 22 June 2007

Key partner organisations express support for One Council for Shropshire proposal

A broad range of Shropshire County Council’s key partners and stakeholders have written to the Government expressing support for the One Council for Shropshire proposal.

They include health services such as Shropshire County Primary Care Trust and the Shrewsbury & Telford NHS Trust; business organisations such as the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, Shropshire Enterprise Partnership and Shropshire Federation of Small Businesses; Shropshire & Wrekin Fire Authority; and Shropshire Association of Local Councils.

Numerous voluntary and community sector organisations - such as Citizens Advice Shropshire, Age Concern, Shropshire Housing Group, Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the Ramblers’ Association - have also contributed to the Government’s stakeholder consultation in support of One Council for Shropshire.

The Government’s consultation on the joint proposal from Shropshire County Council and Oswestry Borough Council to merge the six main Shropshire councils ends today (Friday 22 June). The Government is expected to make a final decision by the end of July.

Malcolm Pate, Leader of Shropshire County Council, said: “I believe the proposal offers a great deal for Shropshire people, both in terms of savings and service delivery. We are one of the very best councils in the country in terms of delivering value for money, and this proposal will see us build on that.

“One Council for Shropshire will provide a single, stronger voice for the county, and will ensure that voice is heard more clearly, helping to secure a fair share of regional, national and European resources to benefit our market towns and rural areas. I am very pleased that so many important public and private service providers across Shropshire also see this as the best way forward for Shropshire people.”

Peter Phillips, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Shropshire County Council, said: “The One Council proposal has the support of all the political groups on the Council, as well as the Shropshire Association of Local Councils and very many individual town and parish councils. We’re eager to grasp the opportunities of the One Council proposal provides to bring access to services closer to people where they live, and to give them a bigger say about service delivery in their own communities.”

Alan Mosley, Leader of the Labour Group at Shropshire County Council, said: “I am delighted that we have a such a large and broad cross-section of support from key partners and stakeholders. We have a strong business case, which more and more people are appreciating as they find out the facts. I’m also pleased that the legal arguments about process, which will be heard at a Judicial Review in September, have not been allowed to stop the Government’s consultation and eventual decision.”

ENDS

For further information, call Malcolm Pate, Leader, via (01743) 252009
For media contact, call Gareth Proffitt, Communications Officer, on (01743) 252828

Additional information

(1) The following key partners and stakeholders have expressed support for the
One Council for Shropshire proposal:

- Shropshire Association of Local Councils and many town and parishes individually
- Oswestry Area Committee, Shropshire Association of Local Councils
- North Shropshire Area Committee, Shropshire Association of Local Councils
- South Shropshire Area Committee, Shropshire Association of Local Councils
- Shropshire County NHS Primary Care Trust
- Telford and Wrekin NHS Primary Care Trust
- Shrewsbury & Telford Hospital NHS Trust
- Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic & District Hospital NHS Trust
- West Midlands Ambulance Service
- Shropshire & Wrekin Fire Authority
- Shropshire Chamber of Commerce
- Shropshire Enterprise Partnership
- Shropshire Federation of Small Businesses
- Management Board of Citizens Advice Shropshire
- Age Concern Shropshire & Telford
- Shropshire Partners in Care
- Senior Citizens Forum
- Shropshire Wildlife Trust
- Chris Huss, Primary Headteachers Central Policy Group
- Greg Molan, Shrewsbury College of Arts & Technology
- Bill Dowell, Principal, Shrewsbury Sixth Form College
- Robert Smedley, Dean of Faculty of Education, Edge Hill University
- Branch Secretary, Unison
- Coverage Care Services Ltd
- Shaw Healthcare
- IBM
- Man Investments
- Syan Ltd, Telford
- Russell Investment Group
- Arriva Midlands
- Hawk Plant Hire Limited
- Gfleet Services Limited
- JDM Accord
- Market Drayton Chamber of Trade
- Marches Energy Agency
- Just Credit Union
- Home-Start North Shropshire and Oswestry
- Homeless in Oswestry Action Partnership
- South Shropshire Housing Association
- Shropshire Rural Housing Ltd
- Shropshire Area Council of the Ramblers’ Association
- Society of County Treasurers
- Association of County Chief Executives
- Chief Economic Development Officers Society
- Cricket Federation for People with Disabilities
- Shropshire Youth Association
- Shrewsbury & Atcham Access Group

(2) The following have written explaining that they are unable to take a formal position of support, but expressing a willingness to work with whatever local government arrangement follows the Government decision:

- West Mercia Police Authority
- Environment Agency
- Natural England
- Learning and Skills Council
- Shropshire Partnership
- National Association of Local Councils
- Health & Safety Executive
- Public Sector People Managers Association