The Government has provided a further update on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), confirming that no decision has yet been made on the future structure of local government in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will now move into the final stages of the Government’s review, with all proposals submitted for the area still under consideration. The Government has said it will make a final decision by early next year at the latest.
The Government has also referred to funding to support the next stages of local government reorganisation and have said Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will receive £500,000. The Government had previously said all areas would receive £900,000 of transitional funding for each new Unitary council so further clarification is needed on the detail so we understand how the £500,000 announced will apply to Cambridgeshire and Peterborough against the previous commitments.
The seven councils across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough will now review the announcement and consider its implications. There are no immediate changes to services, and residents can be assured that councils will continue to work together to prepare for any future decisions.
Councillor Shabina Qayyum, leader of Peterborough City Council, said: "I am pleased that the Government is taking the time to consider this important decision carefully. LGR will be one of the biggest changes that has happened in local government in decades. It is right that any changes and their implications are closely examined before a final decision is made. However, I remain convinced that Option D remains our preferred option for Peterborough."