COUNCILS in Suffolk have condemned the waste of time and money expended on local government reorganisation after it was announced today that councils in Suffolk are to remain as they are.

Cllrs Geoffrey Jaggard (Forest Heath), John Griffiths (St Edmundsbury), Ray Herring (Suffolk Coastal) and Mark Bee (Waveney) responded with mixed feelings to today's announcement from Rosie Winterton, Minister for Local Government.

They said: "While we welcome this announcement as a recognition that the Government agrees with us that Suffolk's district councils were not adequately consulted by the Boundary Committee, we deplore the wasted hours spent over the past few years. We were never against unitary councils, and now we have been given the chance to have our say, in an equal partnership among all the councils in Suffolk. Meanwhile, we will continue to work together to provide efficient services for residents - as we have been throughout this farce.

“The Boundary Committee botched their job by recommending two unworkable and unpopular options, so we are not surprised that the Government has decided not to make any decision in Suffolk. It is a shame they were not able to choose the three unitary solution that we proposed. However, given budgetary constraints and our commitment to share services wherever possible, this could be the best solution in the circumstances."

Cllr Mark Bee added: “The silver lining is that we can now push on with our progressive plans to deliver better services in partnership with Suffolk Coastal.

“A Partnership Board met for the first time last night and the sense of common purpose was palpable. Together we can save money and improve outcomes and I am delighted that the shackles of this botched LGR process have finally been removed.”