Unitary Norfolk Council

So its to be an all Norfolk plus a bit solution – or is it?
The boundary committee probably has got it right, in their terms, in that it is clearly easier and more logical to transfer the 20% services current provided by the district councils to the 80% by the County Council.

Chirman of Boundary Committee - Max Caller

They have also listened to the good folks of Gt Yarmouth and Lowestoft who have rightly convinced them that because of the many strong social and economic links in common they should be considered together. The good folks of Norwich have also demonstrated that they have a case in that they are a regional centre and feel that they are currently ignored by the Tory controlled County Council too much.Very few people take long to convince that a unitary solution is the only option if for no other reason the Government and the Boundary Committee has consistently said so. The problem is that from the residents and democracy’s point of view is an all Norfolk with Lowestoft acceptable. Many Tories at County Hall are delighted as they will see a permanently blue horizon with all other Parties increasingly marginalised. That can not be good for democracy or Norfolk. There are others who still think status quo will prevail. There are even hints that many folks in Norwich wish they hadn’t started this and would prefer a no change option. Bottom line is that we need to move forward with a strong solution that can work for Norfolk people. In my view this means that an all Norfolk is too large a greater Norwich and the rest solution may be viable but no one other than Norwich is yet convinced of this and the wedge has not yet been carefully and quietly considered. So the question I pose here is Is there case for Great Norwich Great Yarmouth and Great Lowestoft?

I think there may be for the following reasons:

There are certainly common service delivery issues particularly around Children’s services Adult Social Services and Social and Economic development. The principle conurbations of Yarmouth Lowestoft and Norwich experience many common challenges of deprivations health, housing and social issues. The numbers stack up both for the wedge and the residual areas. The viability of the residual rural areas and towns would also be enhanced because as with the wedge there are many similar common but different challenges and opportunities. The concept of the wedge has not found favour amongst many and forwarded by none other than the Boundary Committee. Ironically this may also be strength, in that it may represent a good idea from a non partisan source. There is a quiet logic that answers the too large issue of the all Norfolk plus proposal and would also answer many of the Norwich and Yarmouth lobbying issues without full acquiescing to either of them.

The Boundary Committee is listening and so am I Please leave a comment here or directly using link.