North Norfolk District Council has told Secretary of State Hazel Blears of its great dismay at the Boundary Committee’s proposal that a single unitary authority should be in charge of local government for the whole of Norfolk plus Lowestoft.
The Council considered the Boundary Committee’s announcement at a special meeting at the end of July, voting unanimously to formally oppose the proposals and to work with other district councils in Norfolk to build a consensus on an alternative.
“This is a very bad proposal. It’s bad for the people of Norfolk and bad for democracy itself. We are not against change and can see real opportunities for improvement and efficiency gains, but absolutely not through the Boundary Committee model, which we conclude is wrong for so many reasons,” said Virginia Gay, Leader of North Norfolk District Council.
A copy of the letter sent by North Norfolk District Council to the Rt. Hon. Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government follows.
The report to Full Council on 24 July referred to in the letter is available here:
At that meeting, the Council resolved unanimously to:
a) Formally state our opposition to the Boundary Committee’s proposals and to respond to the Boundary Committee accordingly with evidence supporting this position.
b) Work with the other district councils to challenge the inadequacies of the proposal and to build consensus on an alternative way forward.
c) Authorise the Local Government Review Member/Officer Working Group to coordinate activity between Council meetings within the context of 4.4.2 above and specifically:
- to support a judicial review of the process jointly with other district councils subject to a favourable opinion from Counsel of the likelihood of success
- to commission a critique of the Boundary Committee proposal jointly with other district councils to cover arrangements for democratic and community engagement, strategic and service infrastructure and affordability and to give delegated authority to the Working Group to make further financial commitment from the earmarked reserve for LGR of up to £25,000.
d) Advise local stakeholders of our position and to explain why the proposal is opposed.
e) In order to ensure that the best interests of the residents of North Norfolk are reflected in any final new arrangements should the Norfolk/Lowestoft option proceed, to cooperate with all levels of local government to work up the detailed proposals.
f) Communicate our recommendations to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and to the Prime Minister.
