Judgment on Exeter and Norwich unitary JRs postponed until after general election

The judge presiding over the judicial review of the government's decision to grant unitary status to Exeter and Norwich councils has reserved judgment in the case until after the general election on Thursday.

The case was heard at the Royal Courts of Justice on Thursday (29th April) and Friday (30th April) last week.

The judicial review was brought by Devon and Norfolk county councils, which are attempting to  prevent the cities from seceding from their jurisdictions by claiming unitary status. They claim that the consultation process which led to the Communities Secretary John Denham's approval of unitary status for the two city councils was “unfair” and “irrational” due to the government changing the criteria by which the applications were judged midway through. Judged by the original criteria, Devon and Norfolk argued, the applications would have failed the “affordability” test originally laid down when the applications were made.

In response, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), argued that the government's approval of the cities' unitary status was a “rational” reaction to the submissions made during the consultation process and pointed out that the decision has already been tested in court on two separate occasions. Granting Exeter and Norwich unitary status, the DCLG said, would better enable them to deliver local economic regeneration more effectively and better tailor their services to residents' needs.

If it wins the general election, the Conservative Party has promised to overturn the decisions to grant unitary status to both councils.