Residents vote down plans to merge two district councils in Suffolk

Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils are to remain as separate legal entities after residents at one of the authorities rejected proposals for a merger.

In Babergh, 60.9% of the 31,468 residents who voted, voted ‘no’. The other 39.1% voted in favour of a single authority. By contrast, a majority (59.9%) of the 32,061 Mid Suffolk residents who voted, backed the deal.

Across both councils, 50.3% of residents voted ‘no’ and 49.7% voted ‘yes’. The two authorities had said that they would only proceed with the merger plans if more than 50% in both districts said yes.

Cllr Jennie Jenkins, chairman of Babergh’s Strategy Committee, said: “Local people have spoken and from these results those in Babergh are telling us not to go for merger. We are in very tough times financially, and the estimated additional savings from running one council rather than two, will now have to be found elsewhere.”

Cllr Jenkins said the integration of the two councils’ staffing structures and services would still go ahead but the two councils would remain as separate legal entities. “In addition, both councils will need to confront some difficult decisions in making their books balance over the years ahead,” she warned.

Cllr Tim Passmore, Leader of Mid Suffolk, said: “It is extremely disappointing that we have a split view from our local communities about our innovative approach. We still face the difficult challenge of meeting very demanding financial savings while delivering front-line services and it is unfortunate that we cannot work more closely to achieve our radical and innovative idea for merger.”

Charlie Adan, chief executive of both authorities, added: “I would urge everyone to put their differences on the question of merger behind them and support both councils in our efforts to find even more integration savings, reduce spending and raise income to meet the impact of our financial constraints on services that residents need from us.

“In order to meet our financial challenges we have tough targets for savings from integration that we need to deliver immediately and it is important that the hard work to do so continues."