West Norfolk Council almost certain to be abolished after Government’s devolution White Paper is published

The “best outcome” is being sought for West Norfolk after a new Government paper all but confirmed district councils will be scrapped.

After weeks of speculation, a new devolution White Paper released by Whitehall has outlined proposals to reorganise local authorities into unitary councils.

This would mean the likes of West Norfolk Council, Breckland Council and North Norfolk District Council are abolished and replaced by a single authority designed to “achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial shocks”.

This would likely result in the area’s district councils merging with Norfolk County Council as well.

Meanwhile, a mayor could be elected to cover the whole of Norfolk and Suffolk, being put in charge of handling issues such as housing, planning, transport, employment and the environment.

The White Paper will facilitate local government reorganisation for two-tier areas, and for unitary councils where there is “evidence of failure or where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ability to deliver sustainable and high-quality public services”.

For most areas this will mean creating councils with a population of 500,000 or more. As Norfolk has around 930,000 residents, it would be unlikely to have more than two authorities covering the whole county.

After the plans were published, Cllr Alistair Beales, leader of the borough council, said: “Publication of the White Paper ends several weeks of speculation around the Government’s aspirations for devolution and local government organisation in England, allowing informed conversations to begin within the sector and with Government.

“For me, that process starts with considering the Government’s case for change, alongside that for the status quo, and proactively engaging in Norfolk-wide conversations, to ensure the issues, implications and potential opportunities for our communities are fully considered before reaching an informed opinion.

“Conversations will take time and the case for change needs to be fully developed.

“I want to hear a range of views, because council structures and boundaries can affect how services are delivered.

“Crucially, our top priority will always be to seek and advocate for the best outcome for the communities we serve in West Norfolk, ensuring local government is the right shape and size to deliver efficient, accountable services.”

Cllr Kay Mason Billig, leader of the county council, said: “I agree with the Government that we need to look at the structure of councils and ensure we have a system that delivers the most efficient and effective services that are fit for the future.

“I am also prepared to support devolution and a Norfolk and Suffolk mayor, if that is the only way to get additional powers and funding to improve lives here.

“I am keen to engage with the Government and our district councils to consider what the future shape of local government in Norfolk should look like.

“Let’s put the people before politics and attempt to design something that is the right shape and size to deliver efficient, accountable services to our residents.”

The Government is set to invite proposals for reorganisation from areas which will be affected.

It will take a phased approach to delivery, taking into account where reorganisation can unlock devolution, where areas are keen to move quickly or where it can help address wider failings.

The White Paper says: “People are right to demand better public services. The government is taking difficult decisions to raise revenue to deliver the increased investment that public services need. However, better services also require new ways of working.

“Building services solely around the institutions and agencies of central government does not work. Too much money has been spent on badly targeted programmes delivering poor outcomes.

“We urgently need to reform public services to focus on prevention, with programmes built more closely around people and the places they live.”

On the role of district councils moving forward, it adds: “The government’s strong preference is for partnerships that bring more than one local authority together over a large geography.

“In areas with two tiers of local government, before moving to a single tier, the government will establish Combined County Authorities but not Combined Authorities.

“In those cases, while districts will not be constituent members, the government expects effective levels of collaboration to be demonstrated between constituent members and district councils, especially where the district council covers the primary city or economy in that county.”