Three county unitaries endorsed

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Norwich and Exeter look set to be denied their dreams of independence after the Boundary Committee recommended the creation of three massive county unitary councils.

Under proposals announced on Monday, one county unitary would replace Norfolk's seven districts and county council. In Suffolk, a county unitary would supersede most of the existing eight councils, but Ipswich BC would expand to include Felixstowe and the surrounding rural area to create a new authority expected to be called North Haven.

In an unusual move, the boundaries of Norfolk would be expanded to include Lowestoft, currently in Suffolk.

In Devon, the preferred option was for a unitary to cover the entire county, scotching Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council's hopes of expansion.

The committee's findings represent a stunning reverse for Exeter and Norwich city councils, which both submitted bids to become unitary authorities when their county councils did not.

However, both councils' chief executives pledged to fight the findings after the committee refused to dismiss alternative models that would see both cities achieve unitary status with expanded boundaries.

Exeter's chief Philip Bostock said he was "disappointed" the committee had gone for a county unitary as its preferred option, but took solace from its statement there was merit in an expanded Exeter encompassing Exmouth. "They came up with the proposal and have put a lot of thought into it, so clearly it is not a no-hoper. I think we are in a strong position to successfully campaign for this model," he added.

Laura McGillivray, Norwich chief executive, said greater Norwich "deserves a unitary". "A greater Norwich would be the biggest economy in the east of England and a substantial city region," she said.

But the proposals were welcomed by Ipswich BC chief  James Hehir. "As far as we are concerned we need to talk to the other districts involved and just get a move on," he said.

Unitary reorganisation backstory

Former local government secretary David Miliband kicked off the current round of reorganisation in the pages of LGC back in October 2005 by saying he was "keen to listen" to those arguing for a unitary case.

The white paper, Strong and Prosperous Communities,  published in October 2006, invited councils to submit bids for unitary status.

Bids from Durham, Northumberland, Shropshire, Cornwall and Wiltshire CCs, as well as district-led bids in Bedfordshire and Cheshire, were approved in July 2007.

Proposals from Exeter City Council and Ipswich BC won provisional approval pending more work on their viability. A bid from Norwich City Council was referred to the Boundary Committee to investigate alternative proposals based on expanded borders.

The committee's remit was increased in February this year to review the whole of Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Having released its initial findings, councils affected have until September to respond before the committee announces its final recommendation in December.

Viewpoints: The leaders

Daniel Cox (Con), leader, Norfolk CC: "We said all along that one new local council for the whole of Norfolk would be the simplest, clearest and most cost-efficient solution."

John Fuller (Con), leader, South Norfolk Council: "It's madness. Nobody who knows Norfolk and Suffolk well would have come up with this idea."

Brian Greenslade (Lib Dem), leader, Devon CC: "If the government does give this the go-ahead there is not much time to reorganise by next spring."

Mike Harrison (Con), leader, North Devon DC: "We cannot believe that anyone would propose a unitary council that will represent three-quarters of a million people in one of the most inaccessible areas in the country."