Debate to create three new council authorities for Suffolk to be held next week

The creation of three new unitary authorities in Suffolk designed to put the needs of local people first, improve access to services and drive better outcomes is set to be debated by councillors next week.

A motion will be put to West Suffolk Council at its meeting on Tuesday, July 15, proposing the authority continues to work, in partnership with other district and borough councils in Suffolk, to develop a final proposal for three locally-focused, sustainable unitary councils for the county.

The motion highlights that the three unitary solution best meets the view of the public that any new council must be local.

Suffolk’s district and borough councils have already carried out engagement with communities and partners, including an online survey which is still running and has received more than 1,700 responses to date.

In the survey, the most important attribute for future local government in Suffolk is: “Being Local – Ensuring decisions that affect you, and where you live, are made close to you – by councillors and a council that understands your needs and represents your area”.

The motion also addresses the latest government guidance that councils must only put forward one proposal in September – in March, West Suffolk Council’s interim preference had been to form either two or three unitaries, instead of one mega council.

The move follows the government’s call for Local Government Reorganisation which will disband all county, district and borough councils and create unitary authorities to deliver their services.

Three new unitaries would be large enough to deliver but local enough to care – working with local organisations and residents to rewire local services, and building on successful examples of similar-sized unitary councils in the UK.

Three new councils would also build on the work of Suffolk’s district and borough councils which have already achieved £330 million in savings in the last 10 years, through transformation, driving value for money and income generation.

Three unitary authorities will better meet the differing needs of the various areas of Suffolk which could not be met as well or focused on by a “one size fits all” approach of a single unitary authority.

It also means local councillors are closer to their communities, will have a better understanding of their needs and be able to focus on local issues rather than trying to cover a larger area.

Cliff Waterman, the leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “This is a once in a generation opportunity to ensure local government stays local and delivers for the communities and businesses it serves.

“We have asked people what their top priority is and the initial response shows that being local is number one on their list.

“A three unitary model will mean people will have, for the first time, a simple one-stop-shop for all their local council services in one place.

“Their councillor will be part of the local community and understand their needs.

“Services can work together, and with communities, to tailor and deliver initiatives to meet local need and concentrate more on prevention.

“By linking services such as health, leisure, housing and social care it will provide better outcomes for people and provide value for money and affordability.

“A local unitary authority specifically for the western area of Suffolk would find it far easier than one mega council to concentrate on the unique attributes and needs of our market towns, and on the rural communities that surround them.

“It would also be able to carry forward the targeted support we already offer to key local employers, such as the horse racing industry in Newmarket, and consolidate our position in the Cambridgeshire sub-region, which is a UK economic engine.”