This was decided by the municipal council in Gran on Thursday. 16 voted for the municipality to apply against Akershus, while 11 voted against. With that, the region of Hadeland can be united in one county again, after being split between Innlandet and Viken for the past four years. – I am happy about it. It is important for us to be clear now on what kind of direction we want to go, says Gunn Elisabeth Alm Thoresen (Ap), mayor of Gran municipality. Mayor of Gran municipality, Gunn Elisabeth Alm Thoresen (Ap), does not think people will notice much of a possible county change, but believes it is important for the Hadeland region to be in the same county. Photo: Reidar Gregersen / news This is what the municipal council in Gran decided: The municipal council wants a transfer to Akershus county. The municipal board asks the mayor and councilor to start a process to facilitate an application for a county change. It will be requested that the report be updated from spring 2022, especially in relation to county services and funding arrangements. A new case will be brought forward in the spring of 2024 with the aim that an application for a county change can be sent before the end of the first half of the year. When a new case about a county change is pending, a public meeting will be held as a supplement to the citizens’ survey that was carried out in 2022. Gran municipality informs the ministry in writing about the decision in this case and the planned process. Split region From far back in history, Hadeland has been a region with a strong common identity and culture. It still applies, even though the region is split between two counties. Before, all three Hadeland municipalities were in Oppland county. But in 2020, when Oppland and Hedmark counties merged to form Innlandet, only Gran was included in the new county. Lunner and Jevnaker became part of the equally new Viken county, and thus Hadeland was split between two counties. However, from 2024 Viken county will be split up. Then the two Viken municipalities will join Akershus, which will arise again. Now the political majority in the inland municipality of Gran will also go to Akershus. Split municipal council Since the region was split, it has been discussed several times whether Gran should move away from Inlandet. In April 2022, the case was up in the municipal council, and even with a majority of 15 who wanted to stay in the interior. 12 voted to apply against Akershus county. Now there was a majority to seek to get out of the interior. Kjetil Ulset, group leader for the Center Party, thinks it’s a shame. Kjetil Ulset, group leader for the Center Party in Gran, wanted an advisory referendum on what kind of county Kran should belong to. Photo: Reidar Gregersen / news – The majority in the municipal council has spoken, but it is a shame that the population of Gran has not had a say in this matter here, he says. The Center Party wanted an advisory referendum on which county the municipality should be in, but that proposal was voted down by the municipal council. One common Hadeland The other Hadeland municipalities welcome Gran to Akershus. – There is nothing that would be better for our region than for us to belong to one common county, says Harald Tyrdal (Ap), mayor of Lunner municipality. He believes that cooperation and development of Hadeland will be easier when the region is not divided. – It is clear that the county border is not a wall, so it does not create daily challenges, but in the long term it pulls the municipalities a little apart from each other. Mayor of Lunner, Harald Tyrdal (Ap) says that the former Oppland municipality of Lunner was well received by Viken county. From January 2024, Viken will be split up, and Lunner and Jevnaker municipalities will join Akershus county. Photo: Lunner municipality – In a region, the municipalities must cooperate well for the good of the residents, businesses and everyone who lives and visits our region. I think we will benefit from close cooperation and I fear that a county border between us could contribute to the reduction of cooperation in the long term, says Tyrdal. After almost four years in Viken county, he is not looking back. Lunner has never been part of Innlandet, as they formerly belonged to what was Oppland county. – I probably don’t see it as realistic that we should start considering going to the interior. That race has probably been run forever, says Tyrdal. Losing many residents Even if the majority in the municipal council in Gran wants to go to Akershus county, it is the Storting and the government that have the last word in this type of matter. If Gran goes to Akershus, Innlandet county may have lost a total of around 30,000 inhabitants to the neighboring county in the south. It is noticeable in a county with a population decline in many municipalities. – We would prefer to see the whole of Hadeland belong to Innlandet, says Thomas Breen (Ap), county mayor in Innlandet. – At the same time, I can understand that there are many good arguments for bringing Hadeland together again. – There are many reasons why we are happy in Gran and Hadeland. I have a faint hope that they will look north, that would be nice for us. But then it is easy to understand that they want to gather Hadeland again, says county mayor in Innlandet, Thomas Breen (Ap). Photo: Anne Jo Lexander / news He mentions Gran as an important municipality for the interior. – First of all, it has 10,000 inhabitants and is one of the slightly larger municipalities we have. We have also invested a good deal in Gran, among other things in the secondary school and the ferry on the Randsfjorden. – There are many feelings associated with this. It will be as it will be, and we must also be professional no matter what. We have had good cooperation with Viken and no Akershus, so we should be able to handle this in an ok way. – A pat on the shoulder to Akershus County Council Leader in Akershus, Anette Solli (H), says that it is nice when a municipality wants to join her county. She does not give a concrete answer to the question of what attitude she has to the application, but says that this will be a topic in the county council. – It is very positive that a municipality sees the value of being part of our county. In that sense, this is a pat on the back for Akershus, she says. County council leader in Akershus, Anette Solli (H). Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news County change in 2027? The Ministry of Local Government believes that it will be very unfortunate if there is a county change before the next county council election, which is in autumn 2027. Department director Mari Jacobsen wrote in a letter in September this year that if the county change takes place before then, the voters in Gran will be under a county council that they do not have been voting for. She points out that a change in the law has just been made which indicates that it is the Storting that decides the time for a county change. This legislative amendment does not yet apply.
ttn-69
Gran municipality wants out of Innlandet county – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
