Local Government Review


 

The Government is reviewing the structure of local government in Suffolk.  It has indicated that it prefers unitary authorities – one council running all services for a wide area – rather than the existing system of county and district councils.  The Government asked the Boundary Committee to identify potential options and propose a new unitary structure.  The Boundary Committee announced its draft proposal on 7 July and it is undertaking a 12-week consultation period which ends on 26 September.


The draft proposal


The Boundary Committee's draft proposal for Suffolk is an Ipswich and Felixstowe unitary and a Suffolk unitary authority comprising the rest of the county apart from the Lowestoft area.

The Boundary Committee also sees "merit" in a whole Suffolk unitary, minus the Lowestoft area, which could be an alternative to the above proposal.

We are consulting on these ideas and now is your opportunity to air your views.  Public meetings have been held and we are posting consultation forms to residents.  You can either complete and return the form to the prepaid address supplied with it, or you can complete the consultation online.  Please let us know your views by 31 August.  Alternatively, you can submit your views direct to the Boundary Committee until 26 September.

Please email bestforthewest@forest-heath.gov.uk with any other comments or for more information.


More information


You can read all about unitary councils here.

A unitary council must:

  • provide strong, effective and accountable leadership
  • empower citizens and communities
  • deliver value for money
  • have wide support and the change must be affordable.

A unitary council would bring together all district and county services.


Forest Heath District Council's recommendation


At a Council meeting on 9 April, councillors voted in favour of two unitary councils based on east and west Suffolk.  More details are available in our news release.  We submitted our Concept for Unitary Local Government in Suffolk to the Boundary Committee for consideration during its initial work.

My Neighbourhood
Forest Heath District Council
District Offices
College Heath Road
Mildenhall
Suffolk IP28 7EY
Tel: +44(0)1638 719000
Out of hours emergency number for all Forest Heath District Council services
01284 763252