Title

Three district councils are pressing ahead with their High Court battle to stop plans to redraw the local government map of Suffolk and Norfolk. A High Court hearing has provisionally been set for the end of November into the call by Breckland, South Norfolk and King's Lynn and West Norfolk councils for a judicial hearing into the structure review, ordered by the Boundary Committee for England. The three districts claim the Boundary Committee has acted unlawfully in failing to address the key issue of affordability in its review of local government structure in their areas, and that it should have allowed an option for retaining the existing two-tier system. Although the formal deadline for submissions on the public consultation on plans to set up new unitary councils in Norfolk, Suffolk and Devon is tomorrow (Friday, 26 September), the Boundary Committee and the secretary of state for communities and local government, Hazel Blears, now have until 17 October to file details of their arguments against the district claims. Already, the main battlelines in the review have been set out, with all three county councils arguing the case that a single unitary authority covering their areas would provide best value for money and the most efficient form of service organisation for council taxpayers. However, Norwich, Ipswich and Exeter city councils all argue that they should form separate unitary authorities covering their own areas, and have a strong historic and economic case for controlling their own affairs. Arguments over unitary structures in Suffolk and Norfolk have been complicated by the Boundary Committee's suggestion that Lowestoft should be linked with Great Yarmouth in a new Norfolk unitary, but Labour councillors have backed alternative plans for the two seaside towns to be in a separate ‘Yartoft' unitary.

Title

WHITEHALL

Districts launch legal bid to block committee plans

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING