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Detailed proposals that, if backed by councillors on two different authorities, could lead to the creation of a new district council covering the whole of south and central Suffolk are set to be debated over the next few weeks.
Earlier in the summer, both Babergh and Mid Suffolk councillors gave the thumbs-up for more investigations to be conducted into future options for working more closely together to both deliver the expected level of savings required by the Government and to protect priority frontline services.
The resulting detailed business case (soon to be available on both Councils’ websites at www.babergh.gov.uk and www.midsuffolk.gov.uk), which will be considered by Babergh’s Strategy Committee next Thursday (September 16) and then Mid Suffolk’s Executive Committee on September 20 recommends that the best way forward would be for the two councils to create a single council – with the new entity being set up by the spring of 2012.
The investigations suggest that a single council would achieve minimum savings of around £1.3m per year by 2013/14. The alternative option of keeping the two councils separate but integrating many of the functions would achieve savings – but these would be lower and of the order of £0.9m per year by 2013/14.
Discussions with the Boundary Commission, the body responsible for boundary and electoral reviews, has indicated that if the creation of a single council is backed by these committees and then by both Full Councils (Babergh ‘s to be held on September 28 and Mid Suffolk’s on September 30), this is likely to be the subject of a referendum of all residents in Babergh and Mid Suffolk which could be held on the same day as next year’s district elections.
Cllr Nick Ridley, Chairman of Babergh’s Strategy Committee said “there are clear financial advantages to both options, but in the light of the massive public spending cuts we are both facing, the creation of a single council looks particularly attractive as a way of keeping down costs whilst at the same time offering more chance that key services will be better protected”.
Cllr Tim Passmore, Leader of Mid Suffolk District Council added “I’m very pleased that the Business Case is unequivocal in its recommendation for full constitutional merger of the two Councils. In the absence of any alternative suggestions from anyone else, this represents the best chance to preserve important discretionary services whilst also achieving necessary savings of at least £1.3 million each year”
Both Councils have already been engaging with local town and parish councils and other organisations as to their initial thoughts on both options. This dialogue will continue regardless as to which of the two options for change is backed by councillors.
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