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Regional Government vote set for November

Reorganisation options for elected regional assemblies in the North

November 4 is the planned date for referendums on whether to establish elected regional assemblies in the Northern regions of England, the Government has announced. Subject to Parliamentary approval, voters in the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber will all have the opportunity to say if regional government is right for them.

Minister for Local and Regional Government Nick Raynsford said: "People in the three Northern regions now know that in November they should have a historic opportunity to change the way their region is governed. Following on from successful devolution in Scotland, Wales and London, it is now the time for the Northern regions to have a say."

In Orders laid before Parliament for approval, in addition to the proposed referendum date being announced, the reorganisation options to be put to voters in areas with two-tiers of local government were also set out.

Local government reorganisation in those areas of the North with more than one tier of local government is a necessary part of setting up elected assemblies. The Government has always maintained that more than one tier of government below the regional level would be too many, and if an elected regional assembly and local government are to work together for the benefit of local people it is important that there is single tier local government throughout the region.

Voters in areas with two tiers of local government will be able to have a say on which option for a single tier system would work best for them.

Nick Raynsford added: "For the first time local people will be given a direct voice in a referendum on the structure of local government. Unlike previous local government re-organisations, which were imposed by central government, local communities will be given an opportunity to say which option they prefer on 4 November."

The Government is putting forward the reorganisation recommendations presented by the Boundary Committee on 25 May. The only exception is a minor modification to Option B for Cumbria and Lancashire so that the whole of Ormskirk is placed in the proposed local authority of Sefton and West Lancashire. A full list of the options is attached.

If the Orders are agreed by Parliament, the Government's Your Say information campaign will continue until 10 September, four weeks before the ballot papers are sent out. Shortly afterwards, the Electoral Commission will designate which are the Yes and No campaign organisations entitled to grants and other benefits.

The White Paper, Your Region, Your Choice was published May 2002 and the Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Act received Royal Assent in May 2003. Following a 'soundings' exercise carried out last year across the country, the North West, North East and Yorkshire and the Humber indicated a higher level of interest in holding a referendum on establishing regional government. The Government plans to introduce a draft Bill before the Parliamentary recess providing more detail on the powers of an elected regional assembly.