Councillor criticises unitary bid

Plans to turn Ipswich Borough Council into a unitary authority may leave the town unprepared for future outbreaks of bird flu, it has been claimed.

Joanna Spicer, Suffolk County Council's public protection spokeswoman, said the plan could also give local people less protection from rogue traders.

Ipswich council wants to take some of the county's trading standard powers.

But Ipswich council disputed the claims and accused Suffolk of "low-level scare-mongering".

Ms Spicer said: "The county's trading standards officers cover around 80 acts of parliament and address issues on the ground from loan sharks to rogue traders, from food labelling to foot and mouth.

"The Ipswich plan says that they will just concentrate on so-called 'urban matters', forgetting that other issues such as bird flu are just as likely to strike in the town.

'Lack of understanding'

"It betrays a lack of knowledge of the number of smallholdings in the town, and a lack of understanding of what services trading standards must provide by law."

The government is seeking views on Ipswich's bid for unitary status until June.

Ipswich council leader Liz Harsant criticised the attack on Ipswich's unitary bid.

"We are appalled that Suffolk County Council should show such a lack of understanding about our bid to create one council in Ipswich," she said.

"Ipswich is fully aware of the implications of bird flu. Indeed, our officers offered support to our colleagues in Waveney during the outbreak earlier this year.

"Councillor Spicer ought to know that Ipswich Borough Council undertakes a varied role in environmental health matters, including food safety, port health, fire risks in property and smoke-free legislation."