News release as issued by Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils 14 July 2025

The five district and borough councils have so far been united in the opinion that either two or three unitary authorities will be required under Local Government Reorganisation, in order for the new councils to be big enough to deliver, but still local enough to care.

Further public engagement has made it clear that our residents want the new councils to be ‘local and community-focused’ and emerging evidence now shows that three unitary councils across Suffolk could provide high quality, value for money services for our communities, while also being affordable and financially sustainable.

Motions to this effect have now been submitted for debate at our full council meetings later this month; with similar motions also being debated by West Suffolk Council, East Suffolk Council and Ipswich Borough Council at their meetings this week.  This will allow us all to determine our preferred option to meet the needs of our communities – in contrast to Suffolk County Council’s proposal for a single unitary council.

We appreciate that you will be keen to know the geographic area which each council will cover, but this will form part of the further work required to develop the plans, pending the outcome of July’s meetings.

The final proposal will then go to council meetings in September.  If approved, it would then be submitted to the Government, which will make a final decision.

Council papers for July’s meetings, including the motions for three unitary councils for Suffolk, are due to be published this week and you will be able to see them in full, for Babergh here and Mid Suffolk here.

New release as issued by Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils 16 May 2025

Suffolk’s district and borough councils have just launched a wide-reaching survey inviting residents, businesses and communities to help shape the future of our county.

We want to hear people’s views on Local Government Reorganisation in Suffolk – the most dramatic change to local government in 50 years.

The county’s five district and borough councils believe this is a fantastic opportunity to transform public services, so they work for all our citizens and communities; and we need you to help us shape them.  

We want to work with you to design together how any future unitary councils work most effectively with all our towns and parishes. 

We understand Suffolk County Council is inviting you to a series of sessions "to learn more about our response to the government's proposal for local government reorganisation in Suffolk, and why we believe that replacing Suffolk’s district, borough and county councils with one new unitary authority is the best option for our county."

As you will be aware, your district councils hold the view that a single new unitary council for Suffolk would not be the best approach. 

We have not formally decided our proposal as to the 'right' number, size and any boundaries of unitary councils but believe they need to be big enough to deliver and local enough to care. We will not be making a final decision until September 2025 when we need to submit our proposal to Government.

So, rather than telling you what we think, we are instead launching a wide-reaching engagement asking people what they think.