Suffolk ACRE

STRUCTURAL REVIEWS OF DEVON, NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK

In February 2008, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government asked the Boundary Committee for England to advise on the structure of local government in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk. This followed earlier proposals made to the Secretary of State by Exeter City Council, Norwich City Council and Ipswich Borough Council for unitary status on their existing boundaries.

In order to give the Secretary of State advice, the Committee conducted a review in each of these counties and asked people for their views. The Committee has now published a report for each county, containing its advice. In doing so, the Committee has made alternative proposals to the original proposals from Exeter City Council, Norwich City Council and Ipswich Borough Council.

The Committee's alternative proposal for Devon is a county unitary authority, with no changes to the boundaries of Plymouth or Torbay.

The Committee's alternative proposal for Norfolk is a county unitary authority. 

The Committee has made two alternative proposals for Suffolk:

These reports can be accessed via our website, at www.boundarycommittee.org.uk. We will also send the county and district councils hard copies of the reports in week commencing 14 December and ask that they are made available at their offices, libraries and information points.

It is now for the Secretary of State to take a decision on whether:

It is also open to the Secretary of State to request further information or advice from the Committee. Before taking his statutory decisions there will be a period for representations to be made to the Secretary of State about either our alternative proposals or the original proposals. This period will run from 8 December 2009 until 19 January 2010. 

You can make representations on these proposals by emailing DevonStructures@communities.gsi.gov.uk, NorfolkStructures@communities.gsi.gov.uk, or SuffolkStructures@communities.gsi.gov.uk or by writing to:

Unitary Structures Team

Department for Communities and Local Government

Zone 3/J1, Eland House

Bressenden Place

London SW1E 5DU

More information on the review process in general, including the Secretary of State's intended approach to taking his statutory decisions, can be found on the Department for Communities and Local Government's website, at www.communities.gov.uk/localgovernment/restructuring/boundarycommittee

Thank you for your submitting your views during our consultation process. Each of the representations that we received helped inform the Committee's decision-making and we are grateful for your contribution.

 

Yours sincerely