New proposals for local councils

Norwich City Council could become a unitary authority

Norfolk councillors could control a Suffolk town if proposals by the Boundary Committee go ahead.

The committee suggests that Lowestoft should come under the jurisdiction a new Norfolk unitary authority.

The two other options are to amalgamate Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft or have a Norwich unitary council with Lowestoft joining the rest of Norfolk.

All three options would abolish Kings Lynn, Breckland, Broadland, South Norfolk and North Norfolk councils.

However it would not affect parish or town councils.

The three options have been criticised by some councils included in the new line-up.

The Labour group leader on Great Yarmouth council, Mick Castle, said he was disappointed a bid for a Great Yarmouth & Waveney Unitary authority had not featured in the Boundary Committee's recommendations.

'Bizarre'

The MP for Waveney, Bob Blizzard said: "As they stand, today's proposals are nonsense.

"The Boundary Committee's idea of putting Lowestoft in with the whole of Norfolk... would create a large remote council that nobody in Lowestoft would want."

John Fuller, the leader of South Norfolk council, which would be abolished under the new regime, said the decision to include Lowestoft was "bizarre".

He said: "Nobody asked for this. In fact, over 20 proposals of various types were submitted... but no reasonable person came up with this.

"It makes you wonder whether the experts at the Boundary Committee actually considered any of the evidence put to them."

Norfolk County Council said it was pleased with the main recommendation for one unitary authority for Norfolk and Lowestoft.

The new arrangements in Norfolk and Suffolk would start in 2010.

Public consultation runs until 26 September and details can be found on the Boundary Committee website.