There was a report in the EDP last week saying that the current economic crisis would scupper the Local Government Review. It just may be that some good will come out of our economic problems.
At the October meeting of the County Council the following proposal was passed by a majority of all members:-
- The County strongly opposes the need for the Boundary Committee review of arrangements in Norfolk and the procedure adopted. The existing two and three tier structure is entirely adequate for the task of respoding to the needs of Norfolk residents. Retaining the status quo should have been included as an option.
- Any further efficiency would be better achieved, and local democracy and accountability better preserved by joint working between the existing authorities on the basis of the Norfolk shared services model.
- The territorial integrity of the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk should be preserved.
- Any final proposal which involves a change to the status quo should not be implemented without being put to a vote by the government for people of Norfolk.
- Of the options put forward by the Boundary Committee we believe the single county option (without Lowestoft) to be preferable for the reasons set out in the report but this does not detract from our main contention that no change is necessary.
At the meeting I was pleased to support this motion, which I believe will be the best solution for us. Please send me your comments.
There have been further developments from the Boundary Committee. They have decided that they will publish their recommendations on 13/14 February. Readers will remember that they should have been publised at the end of last year, but that delay was the result of a Judicial Revue sporsored by three District Councils.
This will not make any difference to the date that the Minister is due to make her decision, which will be by March 26, it could be earlier, but I doubt that it will be.
By: tonytomkinson on January 23, 2009
at 4:52 am
Just a bit more movement to report. The BC have issued their latest recommendation for consultation. They wish to consult on the two following options,
1 A whole county unitary, without Lowestfoft, and
2 Two unitarys, the enlarged City of Norwich and the Remainder of Norfolk, which they are calling Rural Norfolk. (I doubt that Kings Lynn, and Great Yarmouth like that name)
The consultation period is until the middle of May then the BC will work up proposals top submit to the Minister. She should make up her mind sometime after the Common’s recess and then there will be a short period for us to comment further, before an “Order” is laid before Parliament in the autumn. That is, if the ongoing Judicial Review started by South Norfolk, Breckland and West Norfolk does not scupper the whole process. If you will excuse me saying so, What a waste of money all round. We could have done without all of this! TT
By: tonytomkinson on March 30, 2009
at 1:13 pm