Another milestone on the journey to a merged East Suffolk Council was reached last month.  On Monday 30th April, the councillors of both Waveney and Suffolk Coastal councils met for a unique ‘simultaneous’ full council meeting.

In a symbolic demonstration of the close relationship that has become the hallmark of work between the two administrations, all councillors met to discuss jointly the proposed warding arrangements for the new East Suffolk Council, when the number of councillors across the two districts will reduce from 90 to 55.

The near unanimous support for the proposal on the table now means that a clear set of proposals can be submitted to the Boundary Committee for England.  Once the merger has been agreed by Parliament, the Boundary Committee can then come in and carry out their formal appraisal.

Speaking at the meeting, Ray Herring, Suffolk Coastal District Council leader, acknowledged the work that had gone in, and affirmed the importance of what had been achieved, saying: 

“What we have here is a good and robust working arrangement that we can take forward”