Nine out of ten Suffolk people say
‘LISTEN TO US’
2nd February 2009
The majority of people in Suffolk support a three-unitary council set-up for the county, despite the Boundary Committee's refusal to consult residents on this approach as part of its review of local government structures.
In an independent poll, residents also rejected the proposal for one giant Suffolk unitary by a margin of 2-1 compared with the East Suffolk, West Suffolk and North Haven option put forward by an alliance of local councils.
The poll backs the case that the review is a flawed process, and challenges the Secretary of State, Hazel Blears, to take a proper look at the proposal for three unitaries put forward by Forest Heath District Council, St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Waveney District Council.
The Boundary Committee is consulting on a proposal to split the county into a greater Ipswich area (‘North Haven’) and 'rural Suffolk' (with Lowestoft moving into Norfolk). Another Boundary Committee option is for ‘one Suffolk’ – a giant unitary covering 700,000 people.
In the opinion poll carried out by The Opinion Research Business (ORB), of those who expressed an opinion* nearly nine out of ten (86%) said a third option (three unitary councils) should be included in the Boundary Committee’s consultation. And 60% said they preferred the option for three unitaries (compared to just 25% supporting ‘one Suffolk’ and 15% for two unitary councils)** .
Leaders of the three councils have joined together to persuade the Secretary of State Hazel Blears to make good on Government promises to empower local communities and involve them in local decision-making. Councillors Geoffrey Jaggard (Forest Heath), John Griffiths (St Edmundsbury) and Mark Bee (Waveney) said:
"The Government imposed this local government review on us (with no funding to cover its cost to local people) but nobody is listening to what our communities are saying. We have said time and time again that we know there is tremendous support for three unitary councils in Suffolk and this opinion poll – talking directly to people who live in Suffolk – shows we are right.
Hazel Blears has told us that any successful unitary bid has to show a broad cross-section of support locally. Our poll gives her the reason she needs to send this issue packing back to the Boundary Committee."
* Of the 804 people questioned 717 offered an opinion on whether the three unitaries option should be included in the Review. Of these 86% said that they agreed that this option should be part of the consultation process.
** These figures are based on the 631 who expressed a preference for one of the three options presented to them. 173 answered "Don't Know", thought that things should remain as they are, said they needed more information or “were not interested'
Notes:
- ORB completed telephone interviews with people from all age and socio-economic groups between 13 and 24th January 2009. In total 804 people aged 18+ gave their opinions with interviews spread proportionately across the seven borough/district councils of Suffolk.
- ORB was established in 1994 and is an ISO accredited company that operates according to the Code of Conduct of the Market Research Society and is a member of The British Polling Council (BPC).
Question wording and results
As you may know the review is looking at the current situation whereby Suffolk has two main tiers of local government. There is Suffolk County Council which provides some county-wide services (such as education) and also seven Borough/District Councils: Babergh, Ipswich, Forest Heath, Mid Suffolk, St. Edmundsbury, Suffolk Coastal and Waveney, who are responsible for delivery of other services (such as waste collection).
There are three proposals being talked about as possible alternatives to the current situation, with each meaning that in every part of Suffolk people will have their major services provided by a single local authority. I’ll briefly outline the three alternatives:
- A single local authority for the whole county
- Suffolk being split into two authorities (one to cover Ipswich and its surrounding area including Felixstowe; and the other to cover the rest of Suffolk)
- Suffolk being split into three authorities: one covering the Ipswich area, another for East Suffolk and one for West Suffolk.
Q: As I have described them which of the three is your preferred option? Is it (repeat description of A), or (B) or (C)? And do you strongly or tend to prefer that option?
All expressing a preference Base: 631
Strongly prefer A - 13%
Tend to prefer A - 12%
Strongly prefer B - 5%
Tend to prefer B - 9%
Strongly prefer C - 28%
Tend to prefer C - 32%
Q: The Boundary Committee for England is holding a public consultation to find out residents’ views about Options A and Option B. Both of these options would result in Lowestoft being moved out of Suffolk and into Norfolk. To what extent do you agree or disagree that Option C should also be included in the public consultation? The option in which Suffolk would be divided into three authorities (one covering the Ipswich area, another for East Suffolk and one for West Suffolk) with Lowestoft remaining in Suffolk
All expressing a preference Base: 631
Strongly Agree - 51%
Somewhat Agree - 35%
Neither - 4%
Tend to disagree - 5%
Strongly disagree - 5%
Communications contacts
Forest Heath District Council
Sally Rode Phone: 01638 719361. Email: sally.rode@forest-heath.gov.uk
St Edmundsbury Borough Council
Marianne Hulland. Phone: 01284 757034/07958 470501. Email:marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
Waveney District Council
Phil Harris. Phone: 01502 523637 Email: phil.harris@waveney.gov.uk