Following the Government statement on devolution in England and local government reorganisation Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown asks for a clear timetable for two-tier counties such as Gloucestershire as to when they are expected to provide proposals on any wish to change, and confirmation that the county council elected in May this year will serve a full four-year term of office.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (North Cotswolds) (Con)
I, too, thank the Deputy Prime Minister for ending the uncertainty around the Gloucestershire county council elections taking place this May. Bearing that in mind, will she set out a clear timetable for those two-tier counties such as Gloucestershire as to when they are expected to provide proposals on any wish to change? Will she also confirm that the county council elected in May this year will serve a full four-year term of office?
The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Angela Rayner)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comments. On the certainty that he and local leaders have requested, we will set out a timetable and are writing to all MPs and local areas. As I gently said before, we are trying to work with areas. This is not about us pushing down; it is about us working with local leaders and delivering for local people. We will set out that timetable and work with local areas around that.