Wycombe leader: '˜No need for unitary authority talks now'

Wycombe District Council leader Katrina Wood is unconvinced by the need for council restructure in Bucks.

She said: “We are fortunate at Wycombe that, as a result of years of sound financial management, we have a sustainable future. Wycombe continues to perform strongly and has a clear strategy to deliver on ambitious plans.

“We would therefore look very carefully at future proposals that come forward to ensure that any change delivers the same or improved levels of service to Wycombe District residents and businesses and that our taxpayers are not financially worse-off or subsidise other parts of the county.

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“We would be looking to see that any change was affordable and represented value for money. So far, no proposals have emerged that satisfy these criteria and provide a compelling case for change.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and, if an opportunity presents itself that we consider is in the best interests of those we are here to provide for, then we will of course wish to pursue that at that time.

“At present, we remain to be convinced that any of the proposals made so far are in the best interests of Wycombe district taxpayers.

“Personally, I think nationally the debate is moving on towards looking at the most appropriate arrangements for devolution locally to the public sector, including the health sector, rather than the more narrow local government unitary re-organisation debate.”

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