Three Suffolk districts have now submitted a comprehensive 63-page proposal to the Boundary Committee explaining why they believe a three-unitary structure is best for Suffolk. The document follows a three-month consultation period during which extensive support was shown for the idea.
Calling it “a hugely important moment for the future of this county”, Forest Heath District Council, St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Waveney District Council have delivered the details of a progressive vision for three unitary councils covering East Suffolk, West Suffolk and Ipswich/Felixstowe (called North Haven) to the Boundary Committee for its consideration. They also continue to oppose suggestions for a giant unitary council covering the whole of Suffolk.
This visionary document details how a three-unitary structure would save residents around £30 million a year and also keep democracy local by creating councils with a genuine sense of place, serving their own, local communities. It rejects a single unitary for a county of 700,000 people as too large and remote and also calls on the Boundary Committee to keep Lowestoft in Suffolk as part of the three councils plan.
The councils are responding to the Boundary Committee’s public consultation which asked for comments on its proposals for dividing Suffolk into a unitary North Haven and Rural Suffolk – and moving Lowestoft into a new unitary Norfolk. The Boundary Committee is also considering one council for the whole of Suffolk. Proposals had to be submitted by 26 September but there is still time for members of the public to send in their own views.
Plans to create one council and move Lowestoft to Norfolk have sparked protests by Suffolk residents and led to a wave of support for the district councils’ call to 'Keep us local'.
In a joint statement Council Leaders, Cllrs Geoffrey Jaggard (Forest Heath), John Griffiths (St Edmundsbury) and Mark Bee (Waveney) said: “This is a hugely important moment for the future of this county. It is a comprehensive document – the result of months of painstaking work – detailing exactly why a three-unitary structure is the only option that makes sense for Suffolk. At risk are the things that everyone relies on such as good schools, safe roads, bin collections and a clean environment.
“We do see that unitary councils will save money and deliver more effectively for residents, but we want to make sure that any new councils don’t lose touch with their areas and do reflect the diverse needs of the different parts of Suffolk.
“We certainly reject the idea that one council for the whole of the county can be anything other than undemocratic and remote. We call on the Boundary Committee and the Government to ensure that Lowestoft stays in Suffolk where it has been for the last 800 years. And we want to safeguard Suffolk's economic prosperity and historic identity by cutting eight councils down to three, each focused on their uniquely different areas.”
The councils, response to the Boundary Committee puts forward strong arguments for
new West Suffolk and East Suffolk councils. The submission says: