Massive changes to local government in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk are expected to take a step closer to reality this week. The CLG was expected to publish the terms of reference for the Boundary Committee's reviews of Suffolk, Norfolk and Devon yesterday (Wednesday), after The MJ went to press. The reviews have been brought about following unitary bids by Exeter City Council, Ipswich BC and Norwich City Council. The secretary of state ruled in July that Norwich City Council's bid was to be referred to the Boundary Committee. And local government minister, John Healey, announced in December that Exeter City Council and Ipswich BC's bids would also be referred to the Boundary Committe, because neither of them presented sound financial cases in their present form. Norwich City Council chief executive, Laura McGillivray, said the authority was ‘chomping at the bit' for the terms to be published. But Ms McGillivray said she was concerned about whether the review would leave enough time to meet the Government's original timetable of elections in May 2009 and a new authority becoming operational in April 2010.
