Creating more than one unitary council in Suffolk is vital to deliver effective and efficient services that communities want and need, while making sure local people have their say.
This is the conclusion of the county’s district and borough council leaders, who have united against a proposal for one unitary council to deliver services for the whole of Suffolk – which they say would be too large to work effectively and too remote for local residents to be heard.
The leaders say Suffolk is a county of varied communities and businesses - rural, coastal, industrial, agricultural and urban. Meaning multiple unitaries is the only solution and, in their view, a one size fits all approach will simply not work.
The Leaders of Babergh District Council, East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council and West Suffolk Council say creating multiple unitary authorities for Suffolk would achieve greater outcomes for residents, grow the economy and provide flexible solutions to meet the needs of local communities – in a way that a single council covering a vast geographical area would fail to do.
The interim leaders’ proposals say multi unitary authorities will provide:
- Cost effective and high-quality services for Suffolk residents
- Long term financial sustainability
- Economic growth and support to local industry
- Stronger democratic representation, community engagement and neighbourhood empowerment
- Governance and support systems which can adapt to future aspirations and sustainable growth
- Ambitions to drive progress, innovation, and long-term success
- Structures to support and enable thriving communities and economies.
Crucially, multiple unitary authorities would ensure strong democratic representation as one would be too remote for residents to be heard. It is the best solution to ensure decision makers and the communities they represent would be as close together as possible. This makes sure services are designed and delivered in a tailored way built on local knowledge to meet the unique need of an area, its residents and businesses. Therefore, able to deliver both value for money and better outcomes.
It also supports a more balanced solution for the governance of the Mayoral Combined Authority which is being set up next year for Norfolk and Suffolk.
In the next week, Suffolk borough and district councils are set to consider and discuss recommendations for new unitary models, which will form the basis of an interim report submitted to the government expressing the district and borough preferences for Local Government Reorganisation in the county.
The initial report will not constitute a final decision, and councils will have further time to consider and develop the best option which they believe will redesign and reinvigorate Local Government for the future. Critically, the views of local communities will be at the heart of this work.
As part of the Government’s English Devolution White Paper, councils nationally have been asked to look at reorganisation of local government. This includes disbanding county, district and borough councils and their services being delivered by newly created unitary authorities.
In response Suffolk Borough and District Councils have worked together to look at the best unitary solution for the county, while taking into account Government guidance. This includes guidance around the size of an authority which explicitly allows councils to make a case for unitaries having a population of less than 500,000, with evidence from the District Councils Network now further undermining the case for a mega council.
Council meetings will now be held at Babergh District, East Suffolk, Ipswich Borough, Mid Suffolk District and West Suffolk Councils to make recommendations to form the final interim report that will be fed back to Government for its 21 March deadline.
Leader Quotes:
Cllr Deborah Saw, Babergh District Council leader, said: “The creation of a mega council will break the connection between communities and the councillors who live and work within them. Wards will be much bigger, and councillors will not have the in-depth local knowledge to draw on when decisions are called for. Councils will become more remote from the people they serve.
“The key to local government is in the word ‘local’. This is why we strongly believe two or three unitary councils will deliver the best for Suffolk’s communities. There is simply no evidence that bigger councils give you better services.”
Caroline Topping, Leader of East Suffolk Council, said: "Working with our district and borough colleagues, I am heartened that we have all approached this task in exactly the same way, by placing Suffolk communities at the very heart of our discussions. The existing two-tier system had its 50th anniversary in 2024 and the world has changed a lot in that time. We have a once in a generation opportunity to revitalise local government and create models fit for the next 50 years.
“It is our shared view that a single unitary council, which merely seeks to preserve the established order, represents a total failure of imagination - failing to recognise the very varied challenges that different parts of the county face and the opportunities we can grasp. A model for Suffolk with multiple unitary councils will deliver leaner and more efficient, local structures than are currently in place - but will also ensure the highest possible standards of service for those who need us most.
“These are Interim Plans, a step along the road towards final submissions in September and new councils in 2028. In the coming months, I will listen to residents, businesses and partners about what they think is important in shaping future public service delivery and ensure this forms a key part of our final proposal.”
Cllr Neil MacDonald, Leader for Ipswich Borough Council, said: "Keeping local government truly local is essential to ensuring that our communities are heard, and their needs are met effectively. One single unitary council for Suffolk would be too remote, making it harder for residents to have their say and for services to be shaped around the unique needs of different areas. Multiple unitaries is the right solution for keeping decision-making close to the people it affects and ensuring that local knowledge drives the delivery of services.
“The Government has set clear criteria for local government reorganisation, including the need for financial sustainability, efficient service delivery, economic growth, and strong community engagement. Our approach meets these requirements by creating unitary authorities that are large enough to be financially stable but small enough to maintain close ties with residents and businesses. With an average population in line with existing unitary councils across the country, this model will ensure that services remain effective, responsive, and tailored to local needs.
“Consultation, conversations, and council meetings will be vital as we shape the future of local government in Suffolk. We must get this right, so that our communities thrive, our businesses grow, and our residents receive the services they need in a way that works best for them.”
Cllr Andy Mellen, Mid Suffolk District Council leader, said: “Such a major change to Suffolk’s local government must be evidence-based, and there is no proof from across the country that larger councils are more efficient or effective. So, we reject the idea of a single unitary authority covering all of Suffolk – we believe that smaller councils are more relatable and closer to the communities we serve.
“Put simply, any changes must deliver real improvements to the lives of our residents and meet the diverse needs of different communities across the county.
“We will continue to use the evidence to develop the best option - and ensure the views of local communities are at the heart of this.”
Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader for West Suffolk Council, said: “Our draft joint interim submission explains very clearly why one size does not fit all. multiple unitaries are big enough to deliver but still small enough to connect. This is a generational change to the way local government and services are delivered. It is a real opportunity to think holistically as to how services such as leisure, housing and social care could help how residents thrive. It is about starting with a blank page and not simply bolting council services together. Our collective solution is the best way to deliver services, value for money and make sure the ‘local’ stays in Local Government for Suffolk. Communities and businesses must be close to the decision making and have elected decision makers who are close enough to know their communities and businesses. One unitary authority cannot deliver on that. I will be listening to what all councillors have to say when we discuss the report.”
Meetings will be held:
Babergh District Council – 20 March Council
East Suffolk Council – 19 March Council
Ipswich Borough Council – 19 March, Council
Mid Suffolk District Council – 19 March Council
West Suffolk Council – 18 March Council and Cabinet