THE chief executive of Cheshire County Council has condemned the Government’s decision to split the county.
Jeremy Taylor claims the decision to introduce two new authorities is laden with risks.
After Hazel Blears’ announcement last week, Mr Taylor said: “It’s illogical, absurd and a very black day for the county of Cheshire.
“We remain convinced that Cheshire County Council’s submission for a single authority is, by some distance, the best option in the interests of all the people of Cheshire. “It saves around £21m a year, cuts bureaucracy and prevents the totally unnecessary disruption of excellent services.
“Yet despite the huge risks involved with the split county financial case, the cost of establishing two unitaries – £103m in five years – and overwhelming stakeholder support for a single unitary, the Government has chosen the worst case scenario.”
The transfer is scheduled for April 1, 2009.
