Local Government Review

Following a proposal in 2008 from Norwich City Council the Boundary Committee commenced a review of the way local government is organised in Norfolk.

Currently we have three levels of local government:

• The County Council provide services including schools, social care, roads and libraries
• District Councils provide services such as refuse collection, housing and planning
• Parish and Town Councils represent their local communities and lobby both County and District Councils on issues that are important to their communities

The Boundary Committee are considering two potential options and will make recommendations to government.  Both potential options are based on a “Unitary Model” which means that a single council would provide all the services currently provided by the County and District Councils in the area. 

Proposed by Norfolk County Council the first option would create a single council for the whole of Norfolk.  The alternative proposed by Norwich City Council involves two councils, one covering Norwich and surrounding areas, with the remainder of Norfolk covered by a second Unitary Council.  This would see the current area covered by Broadland District Council split between the two.

Our Parish Councils have told me they would prefer things to stay as they are, but if this is not possible they favour the first option – a single Unitary Council for Norfolk, so let’s looks at that option in more detail:

Key Features

·        A single Council Leader elected by all other councillors

·        Cabinet Members accountable for specific geographical areas, they will ensure the varied needs of different Norfolk communities are represented.  The needs of city like Norwich are different to those of a rural community like Hainford

·        Frontline unitary councillors for each area

·        Stronger scrutiny that includes democratically elected neighbourhood input

·        Area scrutiny powers and accountability for planning, licensing and building control

·        A single council that recognises and builds on the very strong affinity that Norfolk people feel with Norfolk 

What Will Change?

·        Residents consulted more on matters which affect them and well informed about what’s going on in the area, with clarity on who represents them and where to go for services

·        Local communities seeing their own aspirations appearing in county strategies and money spent in ways that make a difference from delegated local budgets

·        Parish Councils with a more influential role in development planning, licensing and highways decisions for their area

·        Local councillors will have a pivotal role between the council and local people, as community leaders with more powers to support their local community and the powers to determine budget allocations to local groups and projects and to promote local regeneration and affordable housing

Benefits of a single unitary:

·        Strategic grip on what matters to Norfolk, and wider influence, in the regional and nationally

·        Strategic leadership and vision to deliver economic success, including the wider regional economy

·        Better, simpler and faster decision making and more resilience to cope with any emergency

·        The most cost effective option for Norfolk

Why would two Unitary Councils be a problem?

If two Unitary Councils are formed:

·        It will be harder to achieve the join up possible from a single Unitary Council

·        The provision of key services currently provided by the County Council will be split up, for instance Social Services and schools

·        It will also involve some degree of duplication and therefore cost more