With nine out of ten people saying they want the chance to comment on East Suffolk, West Suffolk and Ipswich, including those in the centre of the county [1], Suffolk council Leaders are demanding that Hazel Blears MP intervenes in the Committee’s deliberations because, in their view, they are “wilfully ignoring the obvious unitary solution.”
The Leaders of three councils Cllrs Mark Bee (Waveney), Geoffrey Jaggard (Forest Heath) and John Griffiths (St Edmundsbury)have delivered a full report from leading research company ORB to the Secretary of State, following a survey which provides the clearest evidence yet of the county-wide approval for three unitaries. The report (attached, with a summary) concludes that:
- the majority of local people (60%2) prefer the “Ipswich, East and West” structure in Suffolk, compared to just 25% for 'one Suffolk'.
- reasons for preferring “Ipswich, East and West” surround concerns about the size of the county – that a Suffolk unitary responsible for 700,000 people is too big to efficiently manage local services.
- the majority (58%3) agree that an “Ipswich, East and West” structure would provide the best value for money in terms of service delivery (compared to 28% for one Suffolk) and would be most successful in improving deprived areas through regeneration and employment creation (61%4, compared to 25% for one Suffolk).
- Opinion in favour of three unitaries is spread across all seven district council areas and is always significantly stronger than support for any other option.
In a letter to the Secretary of State, Cllrs Mark Bee (Waveney), Geoffrey Jaggard (Forest Heath) and John Griffiths (St Edmundsbury) said: “We have written to ask the Boundary Committee why it has not considered the three unitary solution for Suffolk, which, as demonstrated by an independent opinion poll, commands majority support in Suffolk. We know that this option would meet the criteria that you have set out, and we are perplexed that the Boundary Committee appears not to take any interest in this option at all.”
The Leaders added that the Boundary Committee have “shown no interest whatsoever” in the findings of the survey and are furious that it “still refuses to consider further possible alternative proposals with proper consultation.”
The Leaders continued: “It would, of course, be preferable that the Boundary Committee considered our proposal, but they are determined to not even present it as an alternative for consultation.
"We would be failing in our duty if we did not examine all the options available to us to support people’s right to have their views taken on board.”
Ends
Notes
Full details of Local Government Review can be found on the Boundary Committee’s website: www.electoralcommission.org.uk/boundary-reviews/all-reviews/eastern/suffolk/suffolk-structural-review
1 The Opinion Research Business (ORB) completed telephone interviews with adults from all age and socio-economic groups between 13 and 24th January 2009. In total 804 people aged 18+ gave their opinions with interviews spread proportionately across the seven borough/district councils of Suffolk. When questioned, 717 offered an opinion on whether the three unitaries option should be included in the Review and, of these, 86% said that they agreed that this option should be part of the consultation process.
2This is based on the 631 who expressed a preference for one of the three options presented to them. 173 answered "Don't Know", thought that things should remain as they are, said they needed more information or “were not interested'.
3 Figures based on 624 who expressed a preference; 180 answered “Don’t know”, were not interested, needed more information or felt that none of the three options presented would provide good value for money.
4 Figures based on 653 who expressed a preference; 151 answered “Don’t know”, needed more information, didn’t think any option would make a difference or all would be as likely to succeed, or felt that this was a national rather than local issue.
Communications contacts:
Forest Heath: Sally Rode 01638 719361 sally.rode@forest-heath.gov.uk
St Edmundsbury: Marianne Hulland 01284 757034 marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
Waveney: Phil Harris 01502 523637 phil.harris@waveney.gov.uk
