The latest pronouncement by the Boundary Committee should allow us all a great sigh of relief!
From the start of their sham consultation, a Single Unitary Authority for the whole of Suffolk should have been the first option on their (very short) list.
The willingness of the original Ipswich bid to throw in their lot with Max Caller’s ‘North Haven’ botch only further demonstrates their power hungry ambitions. As for those still calling for a 3-way split, their desperation to cling on to their little bit of ‘district’ control is embarrassing.
However, the complacency of the ‘One Suffolk’ bid in failing to fully promote their offering much earlier in this process remains as one of two key weaknesses. The other is their reticence to ‘love bomb’ the key figures in the districts and boroughs who would make up the core of a unitary administration. Come on Jeremy & Andrea – get your fingers out!!
So, we now have yet another consultation period to make representations.
As the news headlines reminded us this week, the public sector is still taking on staff and offering inflation busting pay increases. Perhaps now is a great time to opt for real cost-cutting measures.
There is only one option – ONE SUFFOLK.
6 comments:
Good to see you back again but I must say your arguments are a little spurious. What concerns me the most however is your continued anonymity. If we are to have the free and open debate you seem to want we really need to say who we are!
I am Max Stocker, Head of Comms at Ipswich Borough Council so you would expect me to be against a one Suffolk option on the grounds that it is too big and does not address community Issues, particularly around deprivation in Ipswich. Local democracy is important to us.
So, let's have a level playing field in this polemic - unmask yourself!
Regards, Max
Max,
Thanks for your response.
You may find my arguments 'spurious' but I would not expect a turkey to vote for Christmas!!
When it's all done & dusted I will 'out' myself - promise.
Until then...
One Suffolk - the ONLY option!!
How much of the Council Tax Payers money is being spent by the County on this blatant attempt at empire building, dont they realise how distant this will make the councillors from the electorate, and why help this politically and financially corrupt government to move even closer to their avowed aims of destroying the Shire Counties and substituting regionalisation?
Dear 'anonymous',
Quite a negative response!
Why will local Unitary Councillors suddenly become more remote than existing District and County representatives?
A One Suffolk authority should have the chance to bring the County together and give a single voice on the national stage. In the current climate, One Sufolk will also need to have a cost cutting agenda based on thrift and efficiency.
One Suffolk - the ONLY choice!
I think that the problem is that nobody really wants change - apart from a few empire builders at Ipswich Borough Council.
Max, surely you have to accept that this process was kicked off by IBC's unending pursuit of power. How many times does Jim Hehir have to be told no by governments of many colours? No to city status, no to unitary status, IPSWICH IS JUST TOO SMALL AND BACKWARD LOOKING.
The current system has nothing wrong with it, if Ipswich spent more time helping the people of Ipswich and less time trying to fight with every other authority they might get somewhere. Just like democracy, it is the worst option until you consider all the others.
Since the boundary committee are not allowed to consider the status quo, One Suffolk is clearly the only way to go. As for councillors being further away from their constituents, why? If anything they will be closer than SCC members currently. At least half the county members are twin trackers anyway.
Who is funding this One Suffolk campaign? I hope it is not coming out of the Council Tax Payers pockets. I can remember the last effort where we paid to have the "Suffolk Works, why change it?" campaign, lets hope eventually the Government comes to it's senses and accepts that the only viable alternative to the status quo is East, West and an Ipswich keeping within it's existing borders, keeping it's hands off rural Suffolk!
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