Norwich City Council has supported the publication of a new report highlighting the important UK cities to the nation’s future.
The Case for Cities report, by Inner Circle Consulting, highlights how small and medium cities across the UK can help the national government meet its growth mission - through local government reorganisation.
It highlights how outdated boundaries and governance models are holding back cities’ ability to contribute fully to national growth, innovation, and public service delivery. It argues that all cities should be given the agency, appropriate governance and voice to be able to fully respond to growing needs across the UK.
Norwich City Council Leader, Mike Stonard, said: “This report is further evidence to back our case for the creation of a Greater Norwich Unitary Authority as part of the Government’s Local Government Reorganisation plans for Norfolk.
“Norwich is a high-growth city in a region that is predominantly rural in character. It powers activity and growth across the area.
“Since 2010, the Greater Norwich economy has grown by 64%, outstripping the performance of core cities like Birmingham and Sheffield.
“Local Government Reorganisation creates the opportunity to design an efficient, targeted, preventative approach to delivering services in Norwich which specifically meets the needs, challenges and opportunities of a growing urban community.”
A proposal to create a Greater Norwich Authority as part of three new unitary councils across Norfolk was submitted to Government on Friday, 26 September.
The Government’s Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) plans would see the new councils deliver all services in their respective areas, as opposed to now where responsibilities are split between the districts and county council.
The three unitary bid was developed by ‘Future Norfolk’, a partnership of six councils – Breckland Council, Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, North Norfolk District Council, and Norwich City Council.
It would see an East Norfolk Council and West Norfolk Council developed along with a Greater Norwich Authority.
In total, three proposals have been put forward for the Government to consider, with a single council for Norfolk and two councils across Norfolk also being proposed.
It is expected the Government will launch a formal public consultation on the proposals in the coming months.
