Suffolk County Council proposes a single unitary authority, facing opposition over local control concerns and diverse needs.
Councilor Richard Rout leads the project and shared the council’s favored idea: a single authority for all Suffolk. He thinks this saves money and improves services, arguing that one council would make things easier, eliminating the need for people to deal with many councils. Smaller councils would not work, he argues.
Ipswich councillors proposed a different plan, advocating for a “Greater Ipswich” authority. Other districts have not shared plans yet. Rout says a single council meets government rules, serving over 500,000 people, while acknowledging that the government might allow exceptions sometimes.
Rout says one council means more money for services, boosting accountability and speeding decisions. He sees chances to combine services, like housing and social care. All services would be under one authority, including waste, housing, and highways, which are currently handled by different councils.
Councilor Andrew Stringer is against the plan. He worries decisions will move away from communities and says devolution should empower locals, which he believes this proposal fails to do. Ipswich’s needs differ from rural areas, meaning what works there might not work everywhere else. He pledges to fight for local control.
A detailed plan is due later this year. District councils shared a joint statement, saying Suffolk is very diverse, with each area having different needs and challenges. Any new council structure must help communities, improve local accountability, and ensure towns have a real link to their council.
The government also wants a mayor for Suffolk and Norfolk, with elections happening in May 2026. The mayor would manage transport, health, and economy.