Green Party

The Green Party, in its submission to the Boundary Commission, today called for a Norwich unitary authority which includes all the built up area of the city - and for two-tier authorities to remain elsewhere in Norfolk.

The Greens urge the Commission to abandon its option of a whole Norfolk unitary authority, noting that the County Council - which would have to take a lead in arguing for such an authority - lacks any solid political will or cross party support for that option.

In its submission, the Green Party proposes:

• A unitary Norwich authority which would cover the whole of the built up area that people think of as Norwich, including: Costessey, Colney, Cringleford and Trowse, Hellesdon, Old Catton, Sprowston, Woodside and Thorpe St. Andrew.
• Keeping two-tier local government for the rest of Norfolk.
• King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, Breckland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council and South Norfolk District would remain largely as now, with the County Council continuing to also cover the areas of the county outside Norwich.
• Rural areas of Broadland District Council to be merged into into North Norfolk. A small section could join Great Yarmouth. The urban areas would be part of the Norwich unitary authority.
• Devolution of powers to parish councils or area committees, in the current City Council area as well as in the areas just outside that already have parish councils.
• Strong rejection of a County Council’s idea for Economic Development Boards to run parts of the county. This, say the Greens, ‘sounds like a nineteenth century form of municipal government and totally undemocratic’.

Adrian Ramsay, Leader of the Green City Councillors in Norwich said:

'The growing distrust between people and their politicians and government must be reversed. The Green Party believes in localised, accountable councils that can concentrate on the specific needs of their areas. Councillors must be able to serve sufficiently localised areas. For these reasons we do not support the current options offered by the Commission. An overpowering, all Norfolk unitary would be a monster, remote from people. That idea has lost support and even the County Council no longer prefers it.

‘The Green Party strongly supports a unitary council for Norwich including all the urban areas that people think of as Norwich. Norwich is a significant city and ought to have its own unitary authority. Urban Norwich has different needs and priorities to rural Norfolk. A unitary Norwich council would mean more local and more accountable government for the city.'

Andrew Boswell, Leader of the Green Party County Councillors said:

'We oppose the Commission's alternative of a single 'rest of Norfolk' unitary, which would be enormous and for which there is little grass roots enthusiasm. Norfolk's rural areas would be better served by retaining district councils and a two tier system. Successful local government must provide better community engagement and we don't believe a large, single, rural unitary can achieve that.'

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Gary Dunion
Posts: 1

"Clearly, the doughnut is the best option on the table"
Reply #1 on : Wed May 13, 2009, 14:46:46

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I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say I am crushingly disappointed by the non-appearance of the word 'doughnut' in this article.

You're dead right though, one whole-of-Norfolk unitary is a daft idea. You're also right about devolving certain powers to parish/community/area councils/committees.

Local communities can't do everything, but there are plenty of things they can handle themselves. Why should district councillors from Sheringham and Cley decide (or even care) whether residential streets in Overstrand have home zone status and lower speed limits?

But you're wrong to drop the patisserie-based metaphors.