A plan setting out the significant benefits of scrapping Suffolk’s six councils and replacing them with just one new authority has been agreed by councillors.
Suffolk County Council’s cabinet approved an interim plan for local government reorganisation in the region, which was submitted at the end of March. A full business case will be submitted in September 2025, following extensive engagement with residents, town and parish councils, businesses and local organisations.
Council members have outlined the key benefits as:
- Simpler for residents – one council would make it easier to understand and contact local government.
- Clearer accountability – there would be less confusion over who is responsible for what.
- Better use of funding – a more coherent, strategic, financially sustainable, county-wide approach to budgeting.
- Safer services – less risk of breaking up critical services like social care and better alignment with other agencies like health and the police.
- Better alignment of services – since everything is under one roof, services can be more easily coordinated, creating opportunities to improve services for residents.
- More efficient decision-making – with just one council, decisions can be made more quickly.
- Connected to and empowering residents – providing both the most straightforward and accountable democratic leadership with enhanced neighbourhood and community engagement.
- Stronger leadership – a single, visible and accountable body providing a clear strategic voice for Suffolk.
Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for devolution, local government reform and NSIPs, said: “When people visit Suffolk, it’s hard not to fall in love with it. Indeed, if you’re lucky enough to live and work here, that love grows strong, anchoring people, families and businesses for generations.
“We are proud of Ipswich, our county town. But so are we of the many other places, large and small, that make Suffolk the cohesive place it is. There is, without doubt, a spirit or force that’s hard to describe that connects and unites our great and special county.”
Analysis carried out nationally by the County Council Network has demonstrated that a single unitary council for Suffolk would have a recurring financial benefit of almost £26 million a year – with a net benefit after 5 years of over £103 million. Local analysis of data suggests that the national figures are reasonable.
Cllr Rout added: “All the evidence shows that one council for Suffolk is the only viable option
to deliver significant savings that can be reinvested into frontline services, financial sustainability and maximum clarity and accountability. This is clearly demonstrated in our interim plan and will be expanded upon in the final business case in September.
“There’s been talk of creating three unitary councils for Suffolk, including a Greater Ipswich. But that model is without credibility and is financially ruinous. We want to deliver the best possible opportunity to Ipswich and all our market towns and rural communities. The only way to do that is as one Suffolk. A Greater Ipswich would be in financial peril from day one, threatening the very services we want to protect.
“But this isn’t just about money, it’s about people too. A single council will absolutely be able to reflect and serve the whole of Suffolk, and our plans will clearly show how local priorities and residents’ voices can and will be central to decision making.
“If we’re going to create a truly sustainable and effective council structure for Suffolk, then one new council is not just the only viable option, but also the best one.”
