The campaign to create one council for Ipswich received unanimous backing at a Borough Council meeting on Tuesday 12th June.
Speakers from all three parties on the council said replacing the current two-tier system would end confusion, cut waste and cut duplication - and bring savings.
Leader Liz Harsant (Conservative) hailed the cross-party support, personally thanking the Labour opposition for their backing. “This is all about creating one council that will be responsible and accountable. One council that will be run for and by Ipswich people. Why should councillors representing rural wards miles away from this room be making decisions which have an impact on our town? We don’t want to run their affairs! All our councillors live or work in Ipswich and that is how it should be. One council would ensure that Ipswich’s voice is heard loud and clear and that our vital interests do not become buried under the needs of a rural county.”
Councillor Harsant said claims that council tax-payers would have to pay more to establish a new council were “rubbish”, adding: “I am sick of all the false claims, spin and scare-mongering that have been used to try to discredit our campaign. Throughout, we have asked for a debate on the facts and we have stuck to that.”
Liberal Democrat Group Leader Richard Atkins welcomed the fact that all three political parties on the council agreed that a unitary Ipswich was the only way forward. "Our bid is supported by a broad cross-section of the community and our stake-holders and our business case has already met the Government's criteria."
Councillor Atkins criticised the county council's publicity campaign against Ipswich but quoted Napoleon, "Never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake”.
Labour Group Leader David Ellesmere also backed a unitary Ipswich, saying residents were confused by the present split between the Borough and the County. "The present two-tier system is a mess. We all know it's a mess. And the only reason most of our constituents don't know it's a mess is because they are so confused about it they don't realise what a mess it is."
He said a unitary Ipswich "cuts waste and duplication ... and will allow us to take power closer to the people by setting up area committees with budgets and a genuine say over how services are provided in their area."
Councillor Ellesmere said the county council's alternative Pathfinder bid "is a power-grab, aiming to take away the strategic powers district councils already have, such as housing, and in return give us local control over potholes and grass verges. I don't think it's a fair swap."
A motion supporting the unitary bid was backed unanimously by Councillors.