Happy New Year to one and all!

Reflecting on the Unitary Ipswich decision (or rather the lack of it), I was surprised that in the wide coverage the option of a merger of all Suffolk local authorities was not mentioned as one of the choices Suffolk could make. As a member of the Suffolk Strategic Partnership Board and a keen observer of the divisive effect of local government reorganisation on two occasions, it seems to me that the potential for best serving Suffolk’s people is not met by internal bickering over boundaries. Reorganisation, whilst exercising political minds, certainly seems of little interest to the general public wherever they live (urban, market town or rural Suffolk). Despite this lack of interest, it is very important – financially, environmentally, economically and socially. The core question should always be what is best for Suffolk

We have in the Suffolk Strategic Partnership and the Community Strategy, a framework and common purpose for building a powerful collaboration. Although on a larger scale than most, merging all into a new Suffolk local authority, would offer strong enablement of solutions to Suffolk’s needs – Community, Economic, Green and so on. Structurally we would have to ensure a much more localised way of responding to the particular needs of communities – delivering the ‘districtness’ or ‘boroughness’ of places – but this isn’t beyond the ken of Suffolk and its leaders. My personal starting point is a belief that ‘Suffolk’ is much more than a brand – it is an important descriptor of place, people, culture, prosperity (as richness of life) and community.

Whatever the new shape of local-government-things-to-come, it will require a shift from some current entrenchments. From where I stand, looking over the parapet of those trenches, what I see is opportunity. I find the increasingly used term of Suffolk as a ‘mosaic’ of communities used to conjure up an image of fragmentation – what I see is a symphony of blended diversity worthy of the Albert Hall – and one that would sound even better if the instruments were tuned to the same pitch!

This is a personal view, rather than an organisational position – what do you think the future of suffolk’s local government should look like?