IT'S business as usual at East Hampshire District Council this week, despite speculation that next year's election could be abandoned as the government presses ahead with plans to reshape local government. Rumours have been circulating in the country since the BBC featured in news bulletins last week that Whitehall officials had told council chiefs they were considering cancelling the May 2007 polls because of possible plans for a reorganisation of local governmen. Elections are due to take place in about 300 English local councils, including East Hampshire. The government plans to release a White Paper on the future of local government in the summer. But minister David Milliband was adamant that no decision on council reforms had been taken and that he intended local government elections to go ahead across the country. He dismissed the rumours as "pure speculation". This week, the leader of East Hampshire District Council, Andrew Pattie told The Herald: "We are ignoring this and getting on with the business of delivering services until told otherwise." He said: "The chances of it becoming a reality, with local government organisations merging by 2008, would be just impossible, there isn't the time. "We are aware that other authorities are manoeuvring, but we are not concerning ourselves with government infighting." The leader of the Liberal Democrats at EHDC, Tony Ludlow, said he agreed that the issue should be ignored at present. "The way to deal with this is to read the White Paper when it comes out in June or July, then have debates with the county council and the residents of East Hampshire." Mr Ludlow said he was concerned that the government already seemed to have made up its mind on the reorganisation of local authorities. "It does look as though the government has formed a strong opinion before it has started the public debate. The White Paper is not due out until the summer and already the government is talking about delaying elections, which presumes it has made the decision already."
