We oppose government plans to create large unitary authorities which we think will be remote from and out of touch with those they serve.

We think the "so called" devolution plans actually represent greater centralisation of local government. The proposed devolution plans centralise current local government powers into larger authorities, in return for returning a small number of powers, responsibilities and income streams previously held by local government and taken by Whitehall in previous changes to local government. We think Whitehall should return that money and those powers to councils without imposing what we see as unwanted centralisation.