Warning that council reorganisation in Norfolk will result in higher taxes

Norfolk’s council leaders have warned the shake-up of local government in the county will lead to people paying higher taxes.

Cllr Tim Adams, of North Norfolk District Council, and Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, of Breckland Council, fear people will be forced to pay significantly more following the reorganisation of councils.

The concerns come amid district councils – which are to be abolished as part of the restructuring – deciding which options they support for the future of local government.

A Norfolk County Council report favoured a single unitary authority system as the most cost-efficient system.

However, all but one of the districts are backing three. South Norfolk supports two.

Cllr Adams, whose authority covers Fakenham, fears that whichever option goes ahead, taxpayers will face bigger bills.

At a full council meeting last week, he said: “It is assumed it will cost about £20million to implement the changes but I am worried about the ongoing costs.

“From the bottom up, town and parish councils will be taking on more discretionary assets and more will form in King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth.

“I worry residents are in for a shock.

“We are doing this at the expense of real reform of public services.”

The Government’s devolution plans would also see the transfer of some powers from Whitehall to Norfolk and the creation of a Norfolk and Suffolk mayor.

Norfolk’s councils are expected to work together to come up with proposals for how reorganisation will look like.

But ministers have been clear it is prepared to impose models if a consensus cannot be reached.

Initial submissions had to be lodged by Friday last week, with the final proposals lodged by September 25.

DISTRICTS DECIDE

Among the district councils, the consensus is that a three unitary authority would be preferred, with six out of the seven districts voting for this option - including West Norfolk Council.

Council leaders have said a single unitary authority would leave the towns and villages in Norfolk’s hinterland at a disadvantage, with too much power centralised in Norwich.

West Norfolk Council members voted unanimously for a three-unitary model, worrying a single unitary would leave rural areas in the west at a disadvantage.

Cllr Alistair Beales, leader of the Independent-controlled authority, said: “I believe that three unitaries, in a large and varied county like ours, will best meet Norfolk’s needs and also provide greater local representation than just one or two large councils.”

Breckland Council, which covers Swaffham, and North Norfolk District Council have also decided to support a three-unitary model - but both warned of increasing council tax bills.

Cllr Chapman-Allen said: “This has the best potential of the options currently available to us.

“It is the most likely to deliver some level of efficiency to the public purse, maintain a vital connection between service delivery and local need, and secure an appropriate councillor-to-resident ratio which protects local democracy.”

Great Yarmouth Borough Council joined them and voted unanimously for three unitaries.

Carl Smith, Conservative leader of the authority, said: “This is the best option for Norfolk and Yarmouth.

“It has been 50 years since the last restructure, we have to make sure we get it right.”

Norwich City Council voted to endorse the three-unitary proposal for Norfolk, including a Greater Norwich Council absorbing suburban areas.

It agreed to submit its interim proposal at a meeting this week and stressed the importance of having services tailored to urban and rural parts of the county while recognising Norwich as an economic powerhouse.

Broadland District Council also agreed to back the three unitary approach, but the vote was close, with 22 in favour and 19 against.

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Sue Holland said: “I truly believe that the more representation we have, based as closely as possible to our communities, the better we will be able to build services, drive economic growth and support our people across the region.”

Labour councillors backed that - but Conservatives, including a number who are twin-hatters, with seats at Broadland and the county council, opposed that approach, stating their preference for a single unitary council.

However, South Norfolk Council wants to see a two-unitary model established – one serving Norwich and East Norfolk including Great Yarmouth, and the other encompassing West Norfolk.