I can't believe that I still seem to be on the campaign trail!Nick and I spent the morning with colleagues from Babergh delivering leaflets in Long Melford in support of a yes vote in the Local Poll on Babergh's plans to merge with Mid Suffolk District Council, details of which should hit your doormat very shortly.
As many people know the two councils are already combining as many of their business activities as possible in order to save money and protect services. However in order to reduce the number of councillors and complete a full merger of the councils we need a mandate from the public.
The merger has benefits over and above the purely financial, although the savings of at least £400,000 per year that would be achieved is around 10 percent of Babergh's share of council tax, and cannot be dismissed as insignificant.
There has been a good deal of nonsense talked about what would happen to us all in the event of a merger, and also about the relative financial strength of both councils. I do not propose to address these here and now. However if anyone has any questions when they have received their voting packs I will be very happy to answer them either by phone, by e mail, or here on the blog.
