East Suffolk Council
Councillors back District and Borough unitary proposals
Following last week’s announcement by District and Borough Leaders that they would prefer more than one unitary council in Suffolk, East Suffolk Councillors have now formally confirmed their support for this approach.
As part of the Local Government Review process, which will see all ‘two-tier’ council areas replaced by unitary authorities, councils are meeting this week to agree interim proposals for submission to Government.
On Wednesday evening, East Suffolk members debated and discussed a wide range of issues relating to the future of local services. In doing so, they reached the conclusion that more than one council will be required in Suffolk to ensure local communities are listened to and properly supported.
Members also agreed that Suffolk County Council’s preference for a single ‘mega-council’ covering a vast geographical area and serving nearly 800,000 people, would be too large to work effectively and too remote for residents - who feel connected to their local places - to be heard.
Cllr Caroline Topping, Leader of East Suffolk Council, said:
“Suffolk is a large county with rural, coastal, industrial, agricultural and urban demands. The arguments that one, remote council can represent and work for such a huge population simply do not stack up, and only multiple unitaries would have the capacity and local connections to deliver exactly what our different communities need. I am delighted that Members across the political spectrum, including Conservative and Labour councillor colleagues, share this view and expressed it so powerfully this evening.”
“I am now looking forward to engaging properly and thoroughly with our residents and taking into consideration what they should expect from the councils that deliver their services. Our communities come first, and our proposals will always reflect that.”
East Suffolk councillors agree that two or three unitary authorities in Suffolk, dedicated to their communities, industries and those who need council services most would, among other things, deliver:
- Simplicity for residents and communities – councils delivering all services
- High-quality services, which are cost effective
- Long term financial sustainability
- Economic growth, supporting diverse local industries
- Stronger community engagement and neighbourhood empowerment
- A commitment to innovation, which delivers long-term successes
- Structures best able to create thriving communities and economies.
Meanwhile, recent data from the District Councils Network also disputes the level of savings that can be realised through the creation of a single county unitary authority, without first reducing services.
The initial joint proposals for a multi unitary solution are being submitted in response to an invitation by Government as part of its English Devolution White Paper. Babergh District Council, East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council and West Suffolk Council are all considering these proposals this week and intend to present a joint report to Government ahead of their first deadline on Friday 21 March.
Further work, including engagement with the public, will be carried out ahead of a final submission to Government by 26 September.