District set to launch legal challenge over Norfolk reorganisation plans

The Government announced plans to replace Norfolk's current local government structure with three new unitary councils: West Norfolk Council, Greater Norwich Council and East Norfolk Council.

But South Norfolk’s leader, Cllr Daniel Elmer has since written to the Government to warn of a potential legal challenge.

It has also been reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service at the Eastern Daily Press that the council has agreed to spend £250,000 on external lawyers to fight the decision.

According to the report, South Norfolk is to argue that the decision was based on flawed and misleading principles, failed to take into account the district's rural nature, and undermines the Government's original criteria for new authorities to service populations of at least 500,000 people.

In his statement, Cllr Elmer said: "This is not an ideological knee jerk reaction but a heartfelt and honest response to a decision that was solely driven by the government’s desire to shore-up Labour’s control of Norwich.

"I believe this was a desperate, ill-conceived plan, and one that has already been rejected by voters, at their first opportunity."

He said the changes could see South Norfolk "becoming just another suburb of an amorphous city", pointing to the loss of localised planning decisions.

He also raised concerns about the area taking on debts of neighbouring councils, which he claimed would lead to council tax hikes.

He said: "We have a responsibility to ensure our residents’ voices are heard. Under the governments proposals they will become second tier citizens: in ‘Greater Norwich’, Hethersett, Cringleford, Poringland and Costessey their voices drowned out by the City.

"In the ‘East’, Diss, Wymondham, Stratton and Loddon will be forced to play second fiddle to Yarmouth and Cromer and even Wells. And, the less said about Hingham being in Kings Lynn the better.

"This is a terrible decision for South Norfolk, it’s a decision that does not make any sense, especially following the recent elections, and it is a decision that I intend to fight. I call on the government to reverse course before this goes any further."

If launched, it is thought that South Norfolk would become the fifth local authority to issue a pre-action protocol letter against LGR.

MHCLG has been approached for comment.

Adam Carey