IT'S QUITE uncanny how boundary changes just so happen to give the political edge locally to the same party which is in government nationally.
When change is in the air, you usually find the main parties split - and on which side of the fence they sit tends to indicate just how better (or worse) off they'd better under a new system.
Take for instance the last Boundary Committee recommendations for West Lancashire. The Tories wanted West Lancs to become a unitary authority while Labour were pushing for a Lancashire-wide council.
It's not particularly hard to guess why. On a county-wide basis, the number of Labour councillors outnumber the Tories. On a district level, it's the other way round.
The other day I was talking to a West Lancs Labour Party member who, quite candidly, pointed out the possibility of Labour only being able to take back control of West Lancs "by the back door" - in other words if the district council was scrapped.
I think most people - even the top bananas at West Lancs council - would admit that sooner or later two-tier authorities will be scrapped.
As I've said before, my own theory is that the government will devolve power to town and parish council level and then swiftly get rid of the middle man - in this case the district.
Certainly the local Labour Party wouldn't mind such a scenario. The Conservatives on the other hand would protest very strongly.
But you really do have to wonder though how much longer it will be before district councils are, like urban district and rural councils before them, are consigned to the history books...
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