Forest Heath District Council has voted in favour of east and west Suffolk unitary councils. This concept is believed to maximise opportunities for value for money, leadership and neighbourhood empowerment and still be affordable.

A concept document giving reasons for the choice is being submitted to the Boundary Committee and can be viewed online at www.forest-heath.gov.uk

Leader of the council, Councillor Geoffrey Jaggard, said: "Whilst some of our Members and local people would rather the status quo be maintained, if the Government insists on change we must ensure that the changes bring more benefit than the disruption that is caused."

Forest Heath District Council has both developed its own policy analysis to find a model which is likely to bring the most benefit to district residents and undertaken a public consultation to hear the views of the public, town and parish councils.

At a council meeting on Wednesday (9 April) councillors felt that any new unitary council must be a balance between being large enough to provide strategic direction, but small enough to connect with its communities. A West Suffolk unitary council will be able to build a true sense of community because of the similarities between both the market towns and the smaller villages of the west of the county.

There are already examples of west Suffolk partnerships that are working well - the West Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership, NHS provision is based on an east/west model, as is Suffolk Police.

A west Suffolk unitary council would be able to focus on important shared interests, for example, the economic development of market towns, environmental and economic issues around farming and the horseracing industry, tourism attractions and the common housing, economic, cultural and infrastructure links.