A peer from Rutland has been assured the county's ceremonial status will be protected in local government reorganisation despite legislation still making its way through Parliament.
Baroness Berridge of the Vale of Catmose spoke in the debate in the House of Lords this week about Alicia Kearns petition of over 7,000 signatures to keep Rutland as a ceremonial county and was told the government has spoken to Rutland County Council about interim proposals already submitted and it's still the intention to protect Rutland across potential mergers of local authorities.
‘Could the noble Lady the Minister please confirm the timing of that legislation? And that is the issue that people from Rutland have raised with me, that the unitary authority, bizarrely, when it's abolished, it will abolish the ceremonial status but that won't happen until primary legislation has happened to preserve the status. And which legislation is it envisaged that that issue would be within the scope of please? Well, we're still in the process of working with that local area on their proposals for unitary local government. We invited their proposals and councils in the areas sent us their interim plans in March and received detailed written feedback on those submissions in June. At this stage, no decisions have been taken on those interim proposals, so decisions will be taken on that in due course. The legislation to enact the devolution proposals has just been introduced in the other place so as that proceeds through we will be considering carefully what the sequencing is of any further legislation that's needed in respect of these ceremonial boundaries that we all want to protect and safeguard’.
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