North Norfolk fights super-county plan

Councillors in North Norfolk have voted unanimously to oppose a new countywide super-authority being suggested n a local government shake-up.A special meeting to discuss the plans agreed to work with other district councils to challenge the inadequacies of the proposal and to seek legal advice over a possible high court judicial review.

Councillors in North Norfolk have voted unanimously to oppose a new countywide super-authority being suggested n a local government shake-up.

A special meeting to discuss the plans agreed to work with other district councils to challenge the inadequacies of the proposal and to seek legal advice over a possible high court judicial review.

Members were told that if the proposal went ahead the electorate in the new authority would receive just one third of the democratic representation of some urban councils and that funding for local projects would be channelled through unelected “quangos.”

They were also informed that the proposal took no account of the government's own reports on such important issues as rural deprivation, community engagement or the future of the coast.

“This is a very bad proposal,” said council leader Virginia Gay. “It's bad for the people of Norfolk, bad for democracy itself, and we will oppose it strongly.”

However, in order to ensure that the best interests of the residents of North Norfolk were reflected in any final new arrangements, the council would continue working up the proposals.

Councillors called for their strongly-held views to be sent not only to the Boundary Committee but also to prime minister Gordon Brown and secretary of state for communities and local government Hazel Blears.