Shropshire Star

MP's warning over Broseley's Broxit move

Broseley Town Council has been told it cannot choose to complete a "Broxit" switch from Shropshire to Telford & Wrekin under the current law.

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Philip Dunne MP

South Shropshire MP, Philip Dunne, said he had quizzed the Government on whether the town council would be allowed to switch from one local authority to the other.

He said the response confirmed that the move would require a review from the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE), and approval from the Secretary of State.

The Conservative MP said that members of Broseley Town Council supporting the measure should stop "wasting time and effort on the unfeasible", and work with the town's Shropshire Councillor, Simon Harris, to benefit its residents instead.

In response, Broseley Town Councillor Mark Garbett, who has been tasked with conducting a review into whether the idea would beneficial, said they would pursue whatever is best for the town – and would follow whatever legal means are required to do so.

Mr Dunne said: “The Minister’s response to me makes clear what I had suspected and told the Mayor – that Broseley cannot unilaterally opt to leave Shropshire Council.

"Rather than wasting time and effort on the unfeasible, I hope those proposing this move will now work with Broseley’s excellent Shropshire Councillor Simon Harris to help deliver even more for the town, as he has been doing so effectively since his election.”

Councillor Harris voiced his belief that the people of the town consider themselves part of Shropshire.

He said: “Since this came out of the town council people in Broseley have been up in arms over the whole issue. The people of Broseley consider themselves from Shropshire, and new families that move to the town, move here because we are in Shropshire.”

Deal

However, Councillor Garbett said they would do what the people of Broseley wanted, to secure the best deal possible for the town.

The review was sparked after dissatisfaction from several Broseley councillors over the amount of funding the town receives from Shropshire Council.

Councillor Garbett said: "If Shropshire Council did not put us in this position then it would not be something we would have to consider.

"Our next process will be to engage with Shropshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council to find out what deal suits Broseley people.

"If we are better off staying with Shropshire Council then that's what we would do. If we are better off moving to Telford then we will ask the people of Broseley to decide what they want to do and then pursue whatever we need to do to make that happen."

Mr Dunne said that Local Government Minister Rishi Sunak MP had said boundaries cannot be amended without a review by, and recommendation for change from, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE).

In undertaking a review, the LGBCE will consider two statutory criteria that the proposed change: Provides effective and convenient local government arrangements; being reflective of community identities and interests.

Mr Dunne said the LGBCE will only normally undertake a Principle Area Boundary Review if there is agreement of all the local authorities potentially directly affected.

The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government would then have the final say whether to implement any proposed change.