Now is the time to have your say on the future shape of our local democracy in Suffolk. Central Government is consulting the public on Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) until the 11th of January. Search for “Consultation on Proposals for Local Government Reorganisation in Norfolk and Suffolk” or go to the website threecouncilsforsuffolk.org where there is helpfully a link at the top of the first page!
I am very much in favour of powering Suffolk with three councils, rather than a huge mega-council stretching from Lowestoft to Haverhill.
Three councils will keep local government local by:
Making things simpler for residents – providing a single point of contact where you live
Being more accountable – no more confusion over responsibilities
Providing greater value for money – saving Suffolk £106 million in the first five years
Offering stronger and joined up services – delivering better services and results where they are needed most
Better decision making – a council local to you means decision can be made quickly and locally
A strength of the three councils’ proposal is that there are five councils involved, giving more discussion, challenge and argument. This has led to a better understanding of what residents want and a proposal with local communities at its heart.
The chief finance officers of the five councils agree that there is a black hole at the centre of the mega-council’s finances.
The One Suffolk business case admits that their preferred option for aligning council tax to the lowest in the county would reduce annual revenue by £32m and it also admits that it would have an impact on their savings benefits. When this is considered, its first five-year saving of £78.2m would reduce by £160m (5 x £32m) and now becomes a cost of £81.8m, and the net annual saving of £39.4m is reduced by £32m to only £7.4m. The payback period is increased from 2.9 years to more than 10 years.
Our numbers show that, taking council tax harmonisation into account, the Three Councils business case is much more financially beneficial than the One Suffolk business case. The One Suffolk preference to reduce council tax to the lowest level is unaffordable and undeliverable and it is no more than a populist promise that is more suited to an election manifesto than a credible, responsible business case.
The Three Councils’ preferred approach to aligning council tax within the first year will ensure that no one pays more than they would have done under the existing councils and will increase revenue so that the first five-year net saving increases to £128.5m. This approach to aligning council tax will therefore result in significant extra investment in services and will improve the financial resilience of the Three Councils, while not burdening residents.
The Three Councils approach will bring benefits -
· £34million annual savings, of which £20million will be reinvested in services
· Locally driven approach to social care, unlocking opportunities worth a further £67.5 million per year
· Fairer Council Tax: equalised within each new area during 2028/29
· Local decision-making by councillors representing about 4,000 residents each
· Stronger communities and empowered town/parish councils
· Tailored services that reflect Suffolk’s diversity
· Smart collaboration across councils where it makes sense
· A strong voice for Suffolk in the new Mayoral Combined Authority
A final decision on the future of local government in Suffolk is expected to be made by the Government in March 2026. The Three Councils proposal is built on local voices. Over 2,200 residents helped shape this proposal, and they ranked “being local” as the top priority. Suffolk to the power of three, will keep the local in local government.
Neil MacDonald is Labour leader of Ipswich Borough Council.
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