Suffolk, Norfolk and Devon asked to give their views

Published       8 December 2009
The Boundary Committee has now given its advice on whether there could be alternative unitary councils in Suffolk, Norfolk and Devon.

Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton has confirmed that there will now be six weeks for affected councils and other stakeholders in these areas to give their views on the unitary proposals before the Government decides whether to put any proposals to Parliament.

The Government requested the Committee to advise on unitary proposals in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk that would deliver bigger efficiencies, better local services, bolder strategic leadership, and broader engagement for local communities.

The advice is as follows:

• in Devon, the Committee has put forward a single unitary council for the current Devon county area
• in Norfolk, the Committee has put forward a single unitary council for the whole of Norfolk
• in Suffolk, the Committee has made two proposals: a single unitary council for the county of Suffolk (the Committee's preferred alternative proposal for Suffolk); and a two-unitary pattern comprising an Ipswich and Felixstowe authority and a Rural Suffolk authority.

Rosie Winterton said:

"Our highest priority is to have the best and most efficient local services for the people of Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk and for those areas to have the strong local leadership they need. We want to see councils that are best able to play their part at the heart of providing innovative and better value public services across the counties.

"There is now six weeks during which representations can be made to us on the proposals that the Boundary Committee have made and on the original proposals for Exeter, Ipswich and Norwich which remain on the table. It is very important that all who are interested in the future governance of these areas take this opportunity to comment on these proposals."

Once the six week period of representations is complete Ministers will, as soon as practicable, take their decisions on what if any unitary proposals will be put to Parliament.

The Government recognises the need to end uncertainty on this and move forward and will be considering the representations as a matter of urgency.

Notes to editors
1. Plans for re-structuring were announced as part of the radical Local Government White Paper in October 2006 in recognition that there can be difficulties in two-tier authorities providing strong, clear, local leadership, and effective, accountable public services.

2. An Invitation to Councils was issued alongside the White Paper and proposals were made to the Secretary of State for unitary councils for the existing Norwich City, Exeter City and Ipswich Borough areas. In 2007 the Secretary of State concluded that she was not minded at the time to implement those original proposals since they did not meet the criteria in the Invitation. The Boundary Committee was therefore asked to provide advice on whether there were any alternative unitary solutions in Devon, Suffolk and Norfolk by 8 December 2009 that could meet the criteria.

3. As part of re-structuring the Government has insisted that any changes to future unitary local government structures must be:

• affordable, i.e. that the change itself both represents value for money and can be met from councils' existing resource envelope; and
• supported by a broad cross section of partners and stakeholders; and
• those future unitary local government structures must
• provide strong, effective and accountable strategic leadership
• deliver genuine opportunities for neighbourhood flexibility and empowerment; and
• deliver value for money and equity on public services.

4. Restructuring is delivering over £150m savings a year in the 9 new unitaries created earlier this year, savings which are being used directly to improve front line services or to reduce council tax bills. These new councils are delivering better services, greater empowerment, and providing a stronger strategic voice for these places.

5. The move from two-tier to unitary authorities is saving over £150m per year in Bedfordshire, Cornwall, Wiltshire, Shropshire, Durham, Northumberland and Cheshire, and is delivering more efficient public services, stronger strategic leadership and deeper community empowerment.

6. The Boundary Committee's advice can be found here: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/boundary-reviews/about-structural-reviews (external link).