On Monday evening, as part of the process of public consultation, Acton Parish Council held an excellent discussion on the pros. and cons. of the Boundary Committee’s proposals with regard to Local Government Reform in Suffolk.
Vice Chairman of the Council, Jayne Cole, gave a presentation (with large maps) outlining what has been suggested and then the floor was thrown open to the few members of the public present, and also to Colin and myself.
One thing that came out very clearly from the wide ranging debate was the fact that the devolution of power to Parish and Town Councils will not be a cost free exercise! It is very likely that Parish Clerks will have to put in additional (paid) time, and Parish Councillors, who by and large now give their time for nothing, may well feel that they have to claim at least a proportion of the allowances to which they are entitled.
After an hour or so of discussion the Councillors came down almost unanimously in favour of the One Suffolk option. This was principally, I think, on the basis of affordability (to the extent that it is possible to assess this in the absence of any numbers). However, Councillors were also aware of the logistical problems that would arise in splitting County Council services in two, and were also concerned about the viability of Suffolk Police were Lowestoft to be excluded from the County.
A letter was drafted at the meeting which will go off to the Boundary Committee shortly.
I took my son Thomas, who was visiting us, down to the village hall to observe local democracy in action! He was impressed as I was at the quality of the debate, the speed of decision making and the general good sense displayed by the Parish Council.
