Suffolk residents vote on future of two councils

Residents in two areas of Suffolk are being asked to vote on whether their councils should be abolished and a single authority created.

Babergh and Mid Suffolk councils said a single authority could save £1.8m-a-year, by 2014.

More than half the voters in each council will need to vote yes before the Boundary Commission can seek approval from the Secretary of State.

A single council would then be created from April 2013.

If more than 50% vote no, the councils will remain separate.

However, the vote will not affect the continuing process to integrate staff and services at both authorities into a single operation, under a newly-appointed chief executive.

Voting will be open until Monday 6 June, and people can vote by post, phone, text or electronically.