Archived press
release.
Suffolk Coastal’s Leader has slammed today’s draft proposals
from the Boundary Committee for England (BCE) for the future shape
of local government and has urged residents, businesses and local
communities to let the BCE know exactly what they think.
Three months after it was given more time by the Government to
redraft its proposals, the BCE has published virtually the same
version, this time offering two options of one giant Suffolk or two
unitary councils - a rural Suffolk and a Ipswich, Kesgrave and
Felixstowe council.
“This has really turned into a farce and a complete waste of
time. It is blatantly obvious from all the comments made by
Government ministers in recent months that they will not support
what the BCE is proposing which is why they were given more time,”
said Cllr Ray Herring, Leader of Suffolk Coastal.
“It has taken them three months to come up with their big new
idea – keep Lowestoft in Suffolk – when it was only the BCE who had
ever thought of exporting Lowestoft to Norfolk and even they had
changed their minds about it last year.
“This was the BCE’s big chance to actually deliver something
that could have improved local services and given local people a
bigger say in the way their councils are run. But they once again
overlooked the logic of having three unitary councils covering
Ipswich, East and West Suffolk which we believe is the best option
if unitary councils must be introduced and would probably be
accepted by the Government,” added Cllr Herring.
Last December, the Government reminded the BCE that it had
called for the Review because it wanted to know if there could
whether there could be alternative proposals for a single tier of
local government, and if so on what basis, for Exeter, Ipswich and
Norwich and the whole or part of the surrounding county areas.
In February the Government announced that ‘there could be
circumstances where the Boundary Committee wished to consult on
further proposals …(and) an extension to July 15 would allow for
significant further consultations and substantial time for the
Committee both to prepare for consultation, to consider responses,
and formulate any advice it submits’.
“We have now had more delay and uncertainty, just for the BCE to
announce it will consult on what it had already consulted on. It
then took a storm of protest last July to get them to change their
original proposals last year and include Lowestoft again.
“But having accepted the logic of Lowestoft remaining in
Suffolk, they have not addressed the issue of how a town with
significant urban issues, many of which it shares with Felixstowe,
sits happily in its proposed Rural Suffolk.
“As these latest proposals do not deliver what the Government
asked for so they appear doomed. So far the BCE have ignored the
views of local communities, most councils, and the Government but I
would still urge everyone to try one last time to get them so see
sense,” added Cllr Herring.
If existing district and county councils are going to be
abolished then Suffolk Coastal insists that a three-way split of
Suffolk with Felixstowe, Kesgrave and Lowestoft as part of a new
East Suffolk unitary council must be an option looked at
seriously.
“I think that most people accept that one giant Suffolk council
would be too large and too remote to serve all its communities.
While it might mean only one chief executive, that person would
need many more middle managers to cope with such a geographically
spread out area.
“Local realities cannot be ignored and Felixstowe and Kesgrave
should not become part of an enlarged Ipswich. It would be as wrong
for our two towns as it was to suggest that Lowestoft should be
part of Norfolk. If unitary government is to be introduced, then
three unitaries in Suffolk would be the best way forward if there
has to be change,” added Cllr Herring.
Suffolk Coastal has argued that a larger Ipswich could be
created, perhaps including Shotley and Hadleigh, alongside its
proposed East Suffolk and West Suffolk councils.
“Both East Suffolk and West Suffolk have their own particular
communities and it is right that both should be separate so they
can tackle their issues and provide local solutions to local needs.
I think we could provide better services, even better value and be
close enough to our communities to involve them in shaping the
services they want,” added Cllr Herring.
Linking Lowestoft and Felixstowe into East Suffolk would see one
council responsible for all coastal and estuary management. The new
council would also have key regional centres of excellence, with
BT/Adastral Park, two major ports, the ‘power corridor’ of low
carbon energy providers, as well as Sutton Hoo and Snape
Maltings.
The council would also be uniquely placed to serve and protect
the needs of its many market towns, picture-book villages and its
large Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Responses to the draft proposals can be made by filling in
an online form on the Boundary Committee's website
(new window) or writing to:
Review Manager (Suffolk Review),
The Boundary Committee for England,
Trevelyan House,
Great Peter Street,
London SW1P 2HW
or email
reviews@boundarycommittee.org.uk