By Vivienne Russell
10 February 2010
The cities of Norwich and Exeter are to be run as unitary authorities after ministers announced the final decisions of the local government reorganisation in the Southwest and East Anglia.
Making the announcement today, local government minister Rosie Winterton said: ‘Strong, decisive local government will play an essential role in promoting economic growth, reducing unemployment and rebuilding the local economy as we move towards recovery.
‘Exeter and Norwich are at the centre of regional economic activity in their areas and their economic performance is crucial for their residents and the wider area. That’s why we’re putting Norwich’s and Exeter’s local leaders – who know their areas best – in charge of delivering all local services and at the heart of delivering growth.’
The Department for Communities and Local Government believes a shift to a unitary model will help the two cities adopt a Total Place approach to local services at a time of financial constraint.
But Winterton decided she had ‘no option’ but to rule out single unitary authority governance in Norfolk and Devon because of a lack of local support, despite Boundary Committee recommendations.
In Suffolk, no single unitary model emerged, although there was widespread support for the principle. The DCLG has asked Suffolk councils and MPs to reach a consensus on what unitary solution they would prefer through a countywide constitutional convention.
In a joint statement, the leaders of four of Suffolk’s second-tier councils – Suffolk Coastal, St Edmundsbury, Forest Heath and Waveney – welcomed Winterton’s announcement. They said it was recognition that the Boundary Committee failed to consult them adequately over the proposed changes.
‘We were never against unitary councils, and now we have been given a chance to have our say in an equal partnership among all the councils in Suffolk,’ they said.
‘The Boundary Committee botched their job by recommending two unworkable and unpopular options, so we are not surprised that the government has decided not to make any decision in Suffolk. It is a shame they were not able to choose the three-unitary solution that we proposed. However… this could be the best solution in the circumstances.’
10 February 2010
The cities of Norwich and Exeter are to be run as unitary authorities after ministers announced the final decisions of the local government reorganisation in the Southwest and East Anglia.
Making the announcement today, local government minister Rosie Winterton said: ‘Strong, decisive local government will play an essential role in promoting economic growth, reducing unemployment and rebuilding the local economy as we move towards recovery.
‘Exeter and Norwich are at the centre of regional economic activity in their areas and their economic performance is crucial for their residents and the wider area. That’s why we’re putting Norwich’s and Exeter’s local leaders – who know their areas best – in charge of delivering all local services and at the heart of delivering growth.’
The Department for Communities and Local Government believes a shift to a unitary model will help the two cities adopt a Total Place approach to local services at a time of financial constraint.
But Winterton decided she had ‘no option’ but to rule out single unitary authority governance in Norfolk and Devon because of a lack of local support, despite Boundary Committee recommendations.
In Suffolk, no single unitary model emerged, although there was widespread support for the principle. The DCLG has asked Suffolk councils and MPs to reach a consensus on what unitary solution they would prefer through a countywide constitutional convention.
In a joint statement, the leaders of four of Suffolk’s second-tier councils – Suffolk Coastal, St Edmundsbury, Forest Heath and Waveney – welcomed Winterton’s announcement. They said it was recognition that the Boundary Committee failed to consult them adequately over the proposed changes.
‘We were never against unitary councils, and now we have been given a chance to have our say in an equal partnership among all the councils in Suffolk,’ they said.
‘The Boundary Committee botched their job by recommending two unworkable and unpopular options, so we are not surprised that the government has decided not to make any decision in Suffolk. It is a shame they were not able to choose the three-unitary solution that we proposed. However… this could be the best solution in the circumstances.’
