Single unitary authority for Suffolk unpopular

Plans of how many unitary authorities there should be in Suffolk are currently under discussion amongst political leaders in the county

Political leaders in East Suffolk are ruling out suggestions of a single unitary authority for Suffolk.

Plans to draw up initial suggestions on how to reorganise local councils and bring devolution to the county are due before government at the end of March.

It is because Suffolk and Norfolk have been fast tracked for devolution, which means the county would share a mayor with Norfolk, and existing councils would be scrapped and replaced with a number of unitary authorities.

East Suffolk Council leader Caroline Topping said: "I am certainly not looking for a single unitary for Suffolk, two or three unitaries please, is what we are looking for."

East Suffolk Council leader Caroline Topping says she is not "happy" with the suggestion of one unitary authority for Suffolk

The government announced in December it wanted to have the largest shake-up of local government in 50 years with their white paper on devolution.

It would see more money and powers coming to areas with a mayor, and two-tier council systems, like the one we have in Suffolk, being dismantled and replaced with unitary authorities which would provide all services.

Suffolk will be sharing a mayor with Norfolk but negotiations on how many authorities the county will end up with are ongoing.

Government guidance suggests new unitary authorities should aim to serve a population of 500,000 or more.

However, that is not a fixed rule and areas with fewer people can put forward proposals.

Suffolk has a population of around 760,000 and some are arguing the county should have two new councils.

Ipswich borough councillors have already set out their stall, deciding last week they would be proposing a Greater Ipswich authority.

Topping, who is also leader of the Green group, said: "No-one I have spoken to, bar Suffolk County Council's administration, think a single unitary is a good idea.

"I am not happy with that suggestion and there are other suggestions on the table like the East-West split."

Topping added: "All the options are still on the table. The county council, the districts and borough have engaged a consult to run the numbers. We need to make sure when we go to the government that we have a credible plan."

What are the other parties saying in East Suffolk?

Mark Jepson, group leader for the Conservatives at East Suffolk Council, said: "I am very proud at what East Suffolk as a new authority has delivered over the last six years, and if there's a way we can preserve our identity I would be keen to explore those options."

Labour group leader at the council, Peter Byatt, said: "Our group are concerned about there being a whole Suffolk unitary, we don't feel that is the best route."

Tony Love is the interim chairman of Suffolk Coastal for Reform, and is against the idea of a greater Ipswich area.

"Voters in Felixstowe and Woodbridge would be appalled to be bundled in with the very sad problems in Ipswich," he said.

Paul Ashton, group leader for the Liberal Democrats at East Suffolk and deputy leader of the council, said he was "not in favour" of a single unitary authority for Suffolk.

MP for Suffolk Coastal Jenny Riddell-Carpenter says "the Suffolk coast is a net contributor to the Suffolk economy"

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, the Labour MP for Suffolk Coastal, said: "The Suffolk coast is a net contributor to the Suffolk economy.

"Does a 'Greater Ipswich' work for East Suffolk and Suffolk Coastal? If it approaches the problem by asking, 'What's good for Ipswich?" then I suspect it won't.

"If we approach the problem by asking, "What's good for Suffolk and driving the regional economy," I imagine the answer puts East Suffolk more in the driving seat. "

What happens next?

As Suffolk is part of the Devolution Priority Programme, the reorganisation and devolution is happening quickly, and new structures could be in place by May 2026.

Below is a timeline as the BBC understands it:

• March 2025 - Suffolk councils to agree and submit by 21 March their interim suggestions of how councils in the county should reorganise themselves.

• May 2025 - Suffolk County Council elections postponed

• Autumn 2025 - final plans for Suffolk's authorities sent to government for approval

• May 2026 - Mayoral elections for Suffolk and Norfolk

• May 2026 - Shadow authority elections for new agreed authorities

East Suffolk Council is having a by-election on 27 February - a full list of candidates is available on their website.