SUPPLEMENT 6
THE GOVERNMENT'S WRITTEN SUBMISSION: TEXT
OF LETTER FROM DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
TO VARIOUS COUNCIL LEADERS
25 May 2010
Dear Leader
Local Government Restructuring in Suffolk
I am writing to let you know that the Queen's Speech
today announced that the Government will introduce a Bill to stop
the restructuring of councils in Norfolk, Suffolk, and Devon.
The proposed legislation will revoke the Orders that
create from 1 April 2011 unitary councils for the cities of Exeter
and Norwich, and will also have the effect that the unitary proposals
for Suffolk remaining on the table cannot be implemented. The
Bill will also provide that where any councillor's term of office
has been extended by one year to May 2011 by the Orders being
revoked, that extension will continue; thereafter each City Council
will return to its usual pattern of elections for one third of
the council annually. This avoids by-elections on the revocation
of the Orders with the associated costs that would arise.
We want to move very quickly, so that councils can
have the certainty they need as soon as possible. Our intention
is to introduce the Bill this week, and subject to the will of
Parliament, to seek its enactment by the summer. Meanwhile we
would not expect councils to take any further steps, including
any work on the proposed County Constitutional Convention, on
taking forward plans to implement unitary structures.
Stopping this restructuring represents good value
for money. Councils in Suffolk will now be free to concentrate
on achieving efficiencies and giving greater value for money to
their communities. The key will be sensible co-operation and effective
collaborative partnership working between all councils and their
partners across the county area. I am confident of your and your
colleague Council Leaders' commitment to this.
Signed:
BOB NEILL MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
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