Boundary Committee for England draft proposals - July 2008

On 7 July 2008, the Boundary Committee for England (BCE) published its draft proposals for the future shape of Suffolk and Norfolk and how unitary councils could be introduced.

• Draft proposals for unitary local government in Norfolk and Suffolk (new window PDF 3.28MB).
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• Boundary Committee press release explaining the draft proposals (new window PDF 36KB).

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The BCE proposed two new unitary councils, one covering Ipswich, Felixstowe, Kesgrave and 19 other parishes in Suffolk Coastal, and one council covering the rest of Suffolk, minus Lowestoft which would become part of a new Norfolk council.

• Map of draft proposal for an Ipswich and Felixstowe unitary authority and a Suffolk unitary authority minus Lowestoft (new window PDF 457KB).

As an alternative, the BCE proposed one council covering all of Suffolk but minus Lowestoft:

• Map of draft proposal for a single unitary authority for Suffolk minus Lowestoft (new window PDF 445KB).

The Leader of Suffolk Coastal was strongly critical of the draft proposals, complaining that it squandered a golden opportunity to provide better, more efficient services that engaged with and served local communities. The Council issued the following press release: What a carve up! Leader slams reorganisation proposals.

• Suffolk Coastal's response to the draft proposals - September 2008.

The business cases considered by the BCE

You can view the business cases and affordability workbooks for the BCE's draft unitary options on the BCE, North Haven and Suffolk County Council websites by following the links below:

• Suffolk structural review financial information on the BCE's website (new window).
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• Ipswich and Felixstowe business case on the North Haven website (new window).
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• Rural Suffolk and single unitary Suffolk (One Suffolk) business cases on the Suffolk County Council website (new window).
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• BCE's consultant's report on the affordability of its July 2008 proposals (new window).

A number of the Suffolk Chief Finance Officers responsible for 'signing off' the business cases to the BCE expressed a range of reservations about the affordability process. These are outlined in the letter below sent to all town and parish councils in the district by Councillor Ray Herring, Leader of the Council.

• Letter to town and parish councils - September 2008 (new window PDF 45KB).

Suffolk Coastal also urged town and parish councils to lobby the Government to register their concern about how the review has been conducted. A press release Town and parishes urged to lobby Government about LGR was issued and a special postcard (new window PDF 340KB) produced, which people could send to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.