A major shake-up of local government in Bedfordshire will mean no increase in council tax, the Government minister leading the scheme claimed this week.

John Healey, a minister in the Department for Communities and Local Government, visited Bedford Town Hall on Tuesday for an update on moves to change Bedford Borough Council to a unitary authority by April 1.

The scheme will also see South Bedfordshire and Mid Bedfordshire District Councils replaced by a new authority for Central Bedfordshire.
The county council will be abolished and its powers taken over.

Mr Healey said: "In Bedfordshire there is the challenge of dividing services that are currently provided by the county council. That was an extra challenge for the leaders.

"But they are getting on top of that. Whatever the view of the unitary plan, I have heard today that people are working well together.

Whatever their party, everyone is determined to make this work, because that is what is in the best interest of local residents.

"And they are also determined that there should be no increase in council tax by the new councils."

He added: "The second big priority, which has come through loud and clear, is to deal with the standards in schools. There is a feeling that for a long time the schools have not been doing the best by the children and young people of the county.

"That determination is shared in Central Bedfordshire. I have already had discussions, and will do so again with education ministers, to give what support we can to improve schools, and the buildings which the children are learning in and teachers are teaching in."

Planned changes to local government date back to November 2006, when both Bedford Borough Council and County Hall decided to bid to become unitary authorities – with the 'winning' authority taking on the powers of both, and the 'loser' being wiped off the map.

In July 2007 the Government ruled that Bedford Borough's bid had been chosen – but there was then a seven-month delay as county council bosses appealed to the High Court.

Mr Healey said: "There have been no problems. We got the legislation through parliament and in place. It is a tough timetable to set up these two new councils by April 1, there is a lot of work to do.

"But the leaders of all the parties and the Mayor of Bedford feel that we are on top of the job. They know the challenges that we have got to sort out by April 1 and they are determined to get in place a single council for Bedford Borough, and a single council for Central Bedfordshire.

"They will keep council tax under control, improve services, and above all improve investment and standards quickly at the county's schools."
He added: "I met with the leader of the county council and her chief executive earlier in the summer.

"The reports I get are that the county is now working well with the two unitaries to help make sure that the new councils work well from day one.

"This is not a 24-hour makeover. This could and should lead to Bedfordshire having two councils which other parts of the country look to as model of good governance, good services, and good value for money."

John Healey's visit to Bedford was warmly welcomed at the Town Hall, but sources at the county council were less impressed.

One insider, who asked not to be named, believed the minister would have learned far more by visiting the county offices on the other side of the river.

He said: "The people who are doing most of the work towards unitary status are at the county council. If the minister had really wanted to know what is happening, he would have visited both councils. If all John Healey wants to hear is that everything is going to plan, he has gone to the right place."