Agenda item

Report No: COU/SE/17/013

Council considered Report No: COU/SE/17/013, which sought approval for the business case for establishing a new single district-level council for West Suffolk.

On 13 June 2017, Council considered draft proposals to form a single Council for West Suffolk.  Following agreement of the draft proposals, a period of public engagement had been undertaken which had begun with the announcement of the proposals in May 2017 and ended on 31 August 2017. This had concluded strong support from residents and stakeholders towards the proposals.

The final business case was now presented to Council in Report No: COU/SE/17/013, which had been amended in response to public engagement and the work of the Future Governance Steering Group.  This Group had been tasked with considering detailed, technical aspects related to the single council proposal, as set out in paragraphs 2.7 and 2.8 of the report. 

The report summarised progress made since approval of the draft business case in June 2017; the work undertaken by the Future Governance Steering Group over the summer 2017; the development of the business case; the outcomes of the public engagement exercise and the proposed next steps.   In addition, the following Appendices were attached to the report:

Appendix 1: Summary of the proposal

Appendix 2: Final Business Case for a single council for West Suffolk, incorporating separate Appendices A to F, as follows:

Appendix A: Future form of local government in West Suffolk – options appraisal

Appendix B: Council Tax harmonisation options

Appendix C: Risk management appraisal

Appendix D: Stakeholder engagement

Appendix E: Responses to online feedback

Appendix F: Equalities Impact Assessment – screening assessment

Appendix 3: Summary of outcome of opinion poll

Appendix 4: Summary data tables from opinion poll (ComRes (independent polling company))

Appendix 5: ComRes opinion polling – frequently asked questions

Appendix 6: Letters received

Councillor John Griffiths, Leader of the Council, drew relevant issues to the attention of Council, including that both St Edmundsbury Borough (SEBC) and Forest Heath District Councils (FHDC) had been at the forefront of transforming local government to ensure the delivery of high quality services, providing support and working with communities; and also the management of growth and investment to help encourage jobs, skills and prosperity.

Councillor Griffiths added that whilst the Councils had been sharing services, staff and policies for several years which had produced savings of £4 million every year; in order to continue to meet the challenges ahead, work more closely with communities and deliver services, then becoming a single council was the next step.

Councillor Griffiths highlighted how the business case clearly demonstrated how a new single council for West Suffolk would put both SEBC and FHDC in a more financially robust position to meet future challenges and deliver services, whilst creating a stronger position to attract investment.

Members noted the support shown from stakeholders and the outcome of the public engagement exercise in the form of the independent,  robust ComRes Poll.  This had indicated 70% of adults across West Suffolk supported a single council, as opposed to 22% that found the proposal unfavourable. In addition, a proposed reduction in the number of councillors had not caused concern for the majority.

Councillor Griffiths moved the recommendation, as set out in the report, which was duly seconded by Councillor Carol Bull, Vice-Chairman of the Future Governance Steering Group.

A detailed discussion was held and the majority of Members supported approval of the business case acknowledging and supporting the views expressed by Councillor Griffiths above, adding that the ‘West Suffolk’ brand had been embedded for several years and it was the next logical step to create a new single council for West Suffolk in order to establish a fit-for-purpose, resilient and efficient organisation that was ready to address the challenges ahead.

A discussion was also held on the benefits of creating a single council in the context of devolution, and how a new council would establish stronger cross border links with authorities and stakeholders in Cambridgeshire and Essex.

Some reservations were raised however, in respect of the following issues; which had been addressed in the business case and in Councillor Griffiths’ right of reply:

(a)     the perceived effect on local democracy and fear of loss of a local voice and accountability;

(b)     the proposed period of seven years for the harmonisation of council tax; and

(c)     the perceived flaws in the engagement process.

Councillor John Burns, leader of the UKIP Group, requested a recorded vote on the substantive motion, which was duly supported by more than five other Members.

On the conclusion of the debate, the substantive motion was then put to the vote.  Of 36 Members present, the votes recorded were 29 votes for the motion, 7 against and no abstentions.  The names of those Members voting for and against being recorded as follows:

For the motion:

Councillors Simon Brown, Bull, Chung, Everitt, Fox, Glossop, Griffiths, Hailstone, Beccy Hopfensperger, Houlder, Marks, Betty McLatchy, Ivor McLatchy, Midwood, Mildmay-White, Nettleton, Pugh, Rayner, Richardson, Roach, Rout, Smith, Speed, Springett, Stamp, Stevens, Thompson, Thorndyke and Wakelam.

Against the motion:

Councillor Beckwith, Tony Brown, Burns, Crooks, Hind, Robbins and Williams.

(Note: There were presently two vacancies on the Borough Council.)

RESOLVED:

That the final business case for a single Council for West Suffolk, for submission to the Secretary of State for Local Government, be approved.