Suffolk Coastal & Waveney Councillors recommend Warding Proposals for new Council

Suffolk Coastal & Waveney District Councils held simultaneous full Council meetings at High Lodge, Darsham on Monday 30th to progress proposals for the new East Suffolk District Council.

The meeting follows the decision by the Communities Secretary to approve the plans for the merger which the ruling Conservatives claim will save £200.000 annually. The statutory order to dissolve the existing Councils on 1st April 2019 is expected shortly enabling new elections to take place in May 2019. New Warding proposals will be put to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local government for subsequent consideration by the LG Boundary Commission for England. Under the warding proposals drawn up by the existing two Councils the number of Wards is reduced to 29 and the number of councillors from 90 to 55 (plus or minus 2).

Eight of the proposed new wards will have a single Councillor with forecasted electorates ranging from Kelsale and Yoxford with 3,322 to Worlingham with 3,804. Councillors are proposing sixteen two member wards and five three member wards including two for Felixstowe and one each for Kesgrave, Kirkley and Pakefield and Harbour & Normanston with a forecasted electorate of over 11,500.

One of the arguments against combining the Authorities and reducing the number of Councillors was the diminished accountability to the lower tiers where Ward councillors could be expected to represent the interests of up to 23 local communities. Even where local parish councils are grouped and with two members it is questionable whether they will be able to provide any meaningful service to local parishes.

Liberal Democrats believe that this merger will widen the gap between residents and electors and the Authority and simply perpetuate the rule by one party and an even smaller elite. A well run council consults its residents about decisions it puts forward and is best when challenged by a strong opposition. This merger did not receive universal approval at initial public consultation stage and as there are just five non conservative councillors the opposition voices were silenced.

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