Enhanced Two Tier Government In Shropshire

EDM number 1637 in 2006-07, proposed by Daniel Kawczynski on 06/06/2007.

That this House notes that Shropshire County Council's bid for unitary authority fails for the following reasons, that Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council, Bridgnorth Borough Council and South Shropshire District Council are all officially against unitary authority, and that the Government has stated that in order for unitary status to go ahead in Shropshire it needs the support of existing councils, which it clearly does not have, and furthermore the residents of Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth and South Shropshire (accounting for 65 per cent. of the Shropshire electorate) have been consulted in referenda, in all three of which the people rejected unitary, and voted in favour of an enhanced two tier structure; is concerned that the bid continues despite the Government's pledge that it would take public opinion into serious consideration; further notes that the Minister of State for Local Government agreed that the outcome of the May elections would have bearing on the decision on unitary status; therefore raises the point that North Shropshire has also expressed concern at the county's bid, and that in all other district and borough councils to have elections, the number of councillors opposed to the bid rose after the election; and with all these factors in mind calls on the Government to reject the Unitary Bid for Shropshire and instead look at moving to an enhanced two tier system of government in the county.

This motion has been signed by a total of 5 MPs.