Just when you thought Babergh was swimming along into the future in comparative if inpecunious safety....Local Government Reorganisation rears its head above the waves!
Yes! It’s back. Last week chief executives of all the Suffolk councils received a letter from the Department for Communities in which ‘transitional arrangements’ for a unitary system are set out for consideration and comment. The Boundary Committee is due to report to the Minister, John Denham, on 19 January, and from the letter we learn that ‘ the Secretary of State, recognising the need to end uncertainty, intends to move forward as quickly as practicable’.
Thus it really does appear that the Government is determined to try to push reform through at the eleventh hour, although in what form remains very unclear.
Looking at the information received it seems that if there are to be two unitary councils in Suffolk, the division of Sudbury East and Great Waldingfield will probably have two councillors. If there is just one however the position is less clear.
This means that there might be some promise of political life for Mrs Antill after the death of the District...but it’s a decision to take when all becomes clearer I think.
