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crowd scenelocal government reorganisation - court case of july 2009 (archived)

The Boundary Committee for England have been reviewing local government in Norfolk. The Boundary Committee had been expected to make their recommendation for a system of unitary government for Norfolk to the Secretary of State by 15 July 2009.

The process however has been delayed as a result of a court case brought by three district councils about the local government review in Suffolk.

On 10 July 2009 a judgment was handed down in the High Court by Mr Justice Foskett which found that: "the Boundary Committee should have discussed with the Claimants any reservations it had about whether the concepts advanced met the Secretary of State's criteria before publishing the Draft proposals in July 2008 and also in March this year".

As a result of the High Court ruling, the Boundary Committee were no longer in a position to provide advice to the Secretary of State on Suffolk by 15 July. As there is similarity with the reviews taking place in Devon and Norfolk, the Secretary of State has decided that the Committee was no longer requested to provide advice in those counties by 15 July 2009.

suffolk judicial review appeal

The Boundary Committee was given leave to appeal against the judicial review judgment on the local government review in Suffolk, and the Boundary Committee has confirmed that it has begun appeal proceedings. The Committee believes that an appeal is necessary in order to achieve clarity on the way forward for its local government review, and will be pressing for any appeal to be heard as quickly as possible.

The Boundary Committee have announced that they won’t be giving any advice to the Secretary of State until the appeal is heard.

what to do next...

For further information and advice:

documents

PDF iconnorfolk reorganisation survey - ipsos mori [PDF, 132 Kb]

PDF iconletter to the director of the boundary committee [PDF, 220 Kb]

PDF iconthe unitary drift: is it justified? [PDF, 375 Kb]

PDF iconfurther draft proposals report - march 2009 [PDF, 931 Kb]

PDF icondraft proposals for unitary government in norfolk and suffolk [PDF, 908 Kb]

PDF iconsummary of draft proposals for unitary government in norfolk and suffolk [PDF, 101 Kb]

related pages

local government reorganisation - background

local councils announce plans to keep norfolk local (archived)

local government reorganisation FAQs

norfolk residents oppose unitary authorities - opinion poll (archived)

public awareness campaign

what's going to change for you - important corrections to our booklet

contact us

Communications
Broadland District Council
Thorpe Lodge
1 Yarmouth Road
Thorpe St Andrew
Norwich NR7 0DU
tel: 01603 430523
fax: 01603 430614
email: unitary@broadland.gov.uk