You’ve been ignored!
Wednesday 23 December 2009
Five district councils are set to take the Boundary Committee back to court over the latest proposals for the reorganisation of local government in Norfolk.
On Monday, 7 December 2009, the Boundary Committee provided its advice to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, recommending a single unitary authority for the whole of Norfolk.
Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk leader Cllr Nick Daubney, speaking on behalf of the districts, said: “ The arrogance of the Boundary Committee astounds us. It has blatantly ignored the views and opinions of the overwhelming majority of Norfolk people.”
The Boundary Committee’s own limited consultation concluded that 85% of people were not in favour of a single county unitary. In the MORI poll, carried out on behalf of the five districts, only 10% expressed a preference for a single county unitary.
Cllr Daubney, continued: “It has been demonstrated time and time again that this reorganisation is not needed and not wanted by the people of Norfolk. The cost of implementing such a restructure would run into tens of millions of pounds - money that will have to be taken from existing budgets and topped up with borrowing. The savings predicted are only theoretical. The Boundary Committee is basing its recommendation on pre-recession figures that are already three years out of date. This is an unacceptably high risk to take with council tax payers’ money at a time when they can least afford it. Councils across Norfolk are already exploring innovative and collaborative ways of working which will deliver savings without the unnecessary costs that come with an imposed reorganisation.”
Cllr Simon Woodbridge, Leader of Broadland District Council, added: “The people of Norfolk have consistently said that they do not want a one size fits all Unitary Authority for Norfolk; 73% of people taking part in the Boundary Committee’s own consultation said that they want to keep the existing structures that we have now. We will be writing to the Secretary of State, and we are urging every resident, whatever their views, to have their say on this important matter, which will affect each and every one of them.”
“We will continue to fight on behalf of Norfolk residents by challenging the whole process in the courts. There is so much at stake here for people and businesses in Norfolk and we do not want to see them paying millions of pounds for a restructuring of local government that they do not support and that will not serve their needs. What we fear is that in return for the multi-million pound drain on their resources all they will receive is a deterioration in services, rising Council Tax and fewer democratically elected members to champion their cause.”
Cllr Daubney, added: “It’s not too late for you to try to influence the Secretary of State’s decision. He is accepting representations until 19 January 2010, so you will need to act quickly. We know that the Boundary Committee has disregarded your comments, but the Secretary of State is an elected representative - he cannot afford to ignore your opinion.”
All representations should be made in writing and sent to:
Email: NorfolkStructures@communities.gsi.gov.uk
Post: Unitary Structures Team, Zone 3/J1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London, SW1E 5DU
The Boundary Committee's full report and further information is available on the Boundary Committee's website at www.boundarycommittee.org.uk
