Plan to scrap Suffolk's two-tier council model

The two-tier council system in Suffolk could be coming to an end after the government set out plans to scrap it within five years.

Suffolk has a county council, four district councils and one borough council - but they could be replaced by combined authorities.

The government believes fewer councils with more responsibilities could save money and provide a better service.

Councils in Suffolk have all said they need "time to consider" the English Devolution White Paper and understand what it means for "residents and staff".

There are still few details about potential new councils, their boundaries or when areas currently without mayors would get them.

But the new combined authorities would cover areas with at least 500,000 residents.

The government wants more elected mayors, who will have enhanced powers and access to more government money.

An area with a mayor would become a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA). MSA's would cover areas with a population of at least 1.5m.

Suffolk would need to join up with other combined authorities to create an area of that size.

Labour leader of Ipswich Borough council Neil MacDonald said it was "essential" it takes "the necessary time to thoroughly review" the white paper.

West Suffolk Council is run by the West Suffolk Working Partnership.

The leader, Labour councillor Cliff Waterman, said he "welcomed" the government's commitment to devolution but said: "One size does not fit all and the council system we have currently has brought benefits for local communities and businesses."

Deborah Saw, the Green leader of Babergh District Council said: "Bigger is not always better – and a 'one size fits all' approach is unlikely to meet the diverse, and often complex, needs of our rural communities and market towns."

Any changes will come with financial incentives, with combined authorities and mayors having more of a say on how government money is spent.

This is essential, according to Caroline Topping, the Green leader of East Suffolk Council.

She said: "Any mayoral combined authority or future change needs to come with the financial resources and powers to deliver real change in partnership with government."

Andy Mellen, leader of Mid Suffolk District Council, also a Green, said he remained "open-minded about reorganisation, as long as it is done in the right way and has the interests of residents at its heart".

Suffolk County Council's services include taking care of the elderly and vulnerable adults, running children's services and maintaining much of the road network.

Its Conservative leader, Matthew Hicks, said the plans were what he was told to expect and he "welcomed it".

The government has said merging councils could save £2bn.

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