20. To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will authorise the holding of a local referendum in cases where a shire district or borough council seeks the status of a unitary authority. (295540)

The process by which a local authority in a two-tier area can become a unitary authority is set out in Part 1 the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007. It requires one or more local authorities for the whole, or part of an area, to make a unitary proposal in response to an invitation from the Secretary of State.

The statute does not provide for a referendum.