Councillors vote for more powers at town hall

Councillors have voted unanimously in favour of bringing more control over services and finances to town hall in Ipswich.

The number of district councils in Norfolk and Suffolk could be dramatically trimmed down as part of a major shake-up being led by the Labour government.

At a meeting on Wednesday, members at Ipswich Borough Council agreed on the idea that it should become a greater Ipswich unitary council as part of the plans.

Council leader Neil MacDonald said Ipswich needed to take its "rightful place" in East Anglia.

Ipswich Borough Council could take control of more local government services if it became a unitary authority, including social care, education and highways.

It would also have a significantly larger budget.

"Moving power and funding from central to local government will enable decision-making and resources to be managed more locally — in Ipswich, instead of in Westminster," said Labour leader MacDonald.

"It is important that we get this right, as this is likely to be in place for the next 50 years."

Conservative group leader Ian Fisher said that although Westminster's devolution programme was being "rushed", it still presented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He added: "The system is crying out for change."

Liberal Democrat group leader Oliver Holmes said a greater Ipswich authority would serve people best and the town sometimes felt like the county council's "wedding guest it doesn't want to invite".

Councillors agreed there should be three authorities as a result of the devolution plan - greater Ipswich, east Suffolk and west Suffolk.

They said they should work with the government, local MPs and other local authorities to make it happen.

Suffolk county councillors, on the other hand, have already discussed the idea of there being only two local authorities - a setup which would not include a greater Ipswich council.

The county council is due to submit proposals for devolution to the government by 21 March.

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