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Here we go again: Flashback to last year's lobbying against unitaries. Now there is a new wave of bids (Pic: Mark Wohlwender) Just as the dust has settled on the recent round of reorganisation, more councils have now clashed over the prospect of a new batch of unitaries. While councils across the country are working together to create new unitaries, the prospect of further reorganisation in Devon, Suffolk and Norfolk has divided local authorities which have submitted a series of rival plans to the Boundary Committee. Devon CC has called for the remaining eight district councils in the county to be abolished and replaced by a single unitary authority to complement Plymouth and Torbay councils. Plymouth City Council has submitted plans for an expanded unitary council. Torbay Council wants three unitaries for the entire county, including a greater Plymouth, a south Devon unitary, and one covering the rest of the county. And West Devon BC and South Hams DC have called for the creation of a South Devon and Dartmoor unitary council. The leaders of Ipswich BC, St Edmundsbury BC, Suffolk Coastal DC and Waveney DC have issued a joint statement calling for three unitary authorities to be created in Suffolk. The councils have submitted plans for an east Suffolk, west Suffolk and a unitary Ipswich. Both Forest Heath DC and Babergh DC have voted for an east and west unitary option in Suffolk, while Suffolk CC has already called for a single county-wide authority. South Norfolk DC has submitted a plan to create four unitary authorities across its county. King's Lynn and West Norfolk BC prefer two, and Norfolk CC wants just one, single-tier council. Breckland DC, Great Yarmouth BC and Norwich City Council have submitted a joint bid for three unitaries, including a greater Norwich. The new unitaries in Northumberland, Cheshire and Durham are expected to launch the search for chief executives and senior management teams shortly. Meanwhile, the new shadow executive for the central Bedfordshire unitary authority has been appointed. Mid Bedfordshire DC leader, Tricia Turner, was elected as chairman of the shadow executive. A record number of candidates is standing in Durham next month, chasing a place on the new unitary council. A total of 404 candidates will be standing for 126 seats on the new authority. Submissions received by the Boundary Committee Devon 21 Norfolk 16 Suffolk 15

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WHITEHALL

Review sparks a new wave of unitary bids

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