Three Suffolk councils today confirm that they have begun legal proceedings against the Boundary Committee for England (BCE) and will ask the High Court to judicially review the BCE’s actions in respect of the local government review for Suffolk. Papers will be served by Forest Heath District Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council this week.
Despite the findings of a recent survey which indicated that 76% of Suffolk residents want the opportunity to be consulted on a ‘three-unitary’ proposal for the County[1], the Boundary Committee has dismissed this option and the views of no fewer than five Suffolk councils who supported it.
60% of those asked said they would actually prefer the three-unitary option and, conversely, only 25% of those surveyed expressed a preference for the ‘One Suffolk’ model, with 14% favouring the creation of two unitary councils[2].
Now, with several Suffolk authorities determined to reflect and represent the wishes of the county’s communities, the BCE face the prospect of a concerted legal challenge instigated by the three councils.
Chief Executive of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, Geoff Rivers, Chief Executive of Forest Heath District Council, David Burnip and Leader of Suffolk Coastal District Council Cllr Ray Herring, said: "Residents across the county have made it clear that they want to be consulted on all options for the reorganisation of local councils in Suffolk, including our proposals for three unitaries covering Ipswich, West Suffolk and East Suffolk.
“The recent ORB survey could not have presented a clearer and more unequivocal statement on behalf of the people of Suffolk that the three unitary option must be considered and other surveys with, amongst others, town and parish councils merely highlight the BCE’s intransigence and ignorance of the popular view.
“Our proposed structure would be the best of all worlds. As affordable as any other option, and yet providing stronger, more accountable leadership with services tailored to local needs. This will strengthen rather than weaken local democracy.”
The grounds for a legal challenge will be made on the basis of three clear issues: that the BCE has not acted fairly; that it has not consulted adequately and that its approach is inconsistent with the view of the Court of Appeal who heard a judicial challenge from Norfolk councils in March.
In the combined statement Mr Rivers, Mr Burnip and Cllr Herring continued: “So far the BCE has failed to listen to local councils, local communities and even Government ministers. It has turned down meetings and seems determined to ignore the views of anyone whose views do not conform to their vision for the county. Given all our attempts to present our case to the Committee, we are astonished by its point blank refusal to even allow our communities the simple opportunity to consider this proposal.
"The BCE apparently believes that “Democracy Matters” and yet instead of welcoming an open and informed debate, it has driven us to seek proper democracy through the courts. That is a shabby way to treat the people of Suffolk.”
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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
Further details of the case being made by the alliance of three councils can be located at the following website: www.keepuslocal.net
[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.
76% said that they agreed that the ‘three unitary’ option should be part of the consultation process.
[2] This 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'.
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Communications contacts
Forest Heath: Sally Rode
Phone: 01638 719361 Email: sally.rode@forest-heath.gov.uk
St Edmundsbury: Marianne Hulland
Phone: 01284 757034 Email: marianne.hulland@stedsbc.gov.uk
Suffolk Coastal: Viv Hotten
Phone: 01394 444361 Email: viv.hotten@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk
