A joint submission has been submitted arguing the case for a new East Suffolk Unitary Council to be set up as part of the Boundary Committee’s review of local government in Suffolk.

All of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney would be joined together, along with parts of Mid Suffolk and Babergh, uniting communities with shared life-styles and goals, to create one council to provide all the key services to around 250,000 residents.

“Maintaining and improving the quality of life of East Suffolk will be the main goal of the new unitary Council which is the only structure that can deliver the better local services and even better value for money that our residents expect and demand,” said Cllr Ray Herring, Leader of Suffolk Coastal.

“Who are in a better position to understand and positively address the challenges facing East Suffolk than the people who live there? We are committed to giving them a real local voice in the decisions and services that affect them.

“East Suffolk is unique, and we want to build on what makes it such a special place and unites its communities to deliver a truly local, listening council, that is geared to meeting the needs and priorities of our people. Ours would be a Council that is small enough to be local and efficient, big enough to be powerful on a regional and national stage,” added Cllr Herring.

The submission describes East Suffolk as a gateway to the world with its two nationally important ports, and a place where much of the world seems to want to visit with their guarantee of a warm and friendly welcome. At the same time it is a home for residents, who give it top-class ratings for quality of life, and for world-beating innovative industries.

The area manages to combine unspoilt countryside and coastline with bustling seaside resorts, tourist attractions, high performing private and state schools, well below average crime rates, and is also a magnet for business investment.

“There is so much here that makes us special and unites our communities in a way that
would not be the same if we looked across the county border.  This submission supports the strong views that have been given to us by Kesgrave and its surrounding parishes against any possible link up with Ipswich.

“We would build on our experience of working in partnership with other private and public sector organisations to obtain better services at even better value for money. My Council for example has delivered some of the biggest efficiencies across the country and that know-how will be vital in pressing ahead with a new unitary council.

“We are in the position to know what our communities want and think, and we intend to involve them fully to give them a real say in the way their local services are delivered. We do not think that this sense of shared experience, of real involvement, or of a united community could ever be met by a new council attempting to serve over 600,000 people,” added Cllr Herring.

The submission anticipates having an innovative ‘virtual council’ that will move around its communities, with a network of offices rather than one remote central headquarters.  It expects to set up a network of Area Committees that will work alongside the Town and Parish Councils to help deliver decisions and services on a local basis.

“We are in an excellent position to Go Local and further empower our communities as we have a network of town and parish councils which means there are already over 1,500 councillors ready to take on a bigger role. We intend to build on and strengthen this network as an immediate tool to provide more meaningful community engagement and empowerment,” added Cllr Herring.

The concept has the full support of the groups represented on Suffolk Coastal, the administration of Waveney, plus Ipswich and St Edmundsbury Councils. The full concept submitted to the Boundary Committee is on www.suffolkcoastal.gov.uk/yourcouncil/future