The Boundary Committee for England has published a draft proposal for new unitary local government arrangements in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk and has begun a consultation on the proposals.
Devon
The proposal outlines a single unitary authority covering the whole of Devon, Plymouth’s and Torbay’s boundaries would be left unchanged. However, the Committee also saw merit in another pattern of unitary local government in Devon – with one authority covering Exeter and Exmouth and one covering the rest of Devon, without changes to Plymouth and Torbay.
Norfolk and Suffolk
The proposal for Suffolk is for two unitary authorities – one covering Ipswich and Felixstowe and one covering the rest of the county without Lowestoft. In Norfolk, the Committee proposes a single unitary authority which would cover the whole county and include Lowestoft.
However, the Committee also saw merit in other patterns of unitary local government in both counties. In Suffolk, we thought there was merit in a Suffolk unitary authority covering the whole county except for Lowestoft. In Norfolk, the Committee thought there was merit in linking Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Norwich in a unitary authority, the rest of Norfolk would form another unitary authority. They also saw merit in a ‘doughnut’ pattern, with one authority for Norwich on expanded boundaries and one for the remainder of Norfolk which would also include Lowestoft.
More information, and to respond to the consultation: www.boundarycommittee.org.uk