The Green group, who form the official opposition at Suffolk County Council have criticised the decision by the Reform UK administration to challenge the government’s decision to reorganise councils in Suffolk.
Like the rest of the country, Suffolk was due to move from a two-tier model (county councils and districts/boroughs) to a model of three unitary councils which would provide all council services for each area.
The unitary councils were due to be set up from April 2028, with elections for the new councillors to be held in May 2027.
The Reform UK group at the council, which gained power at the county council in the recent local elections, have announced that they will be challenging the legal basis of the government’s decision. This has also been announced as a priority by Reform at neighbouring Essex County Council and Norfolk County Council.
Andrew Stringer, Leader of the Greens and their spokesperson for Local Government and Devolution, said:
“Our group is deeply concerned that the Reform UK administration have taken this decision without a vote or discussion.
In the previous administrative term, we had several opportunities to put residents views across. I feel sure the people of Suffolk are very concerned that an unknown quantity of public money is being used to challenge government legalisation. We now are less than 10 months away from the elections to the new unitary authorities, and Reform UK are using an undisclosed amount of public money to potentially frustrate this election.
I find it ironic that Reform made a great deal during their election campaign about their giving the public a chance to vote, yet as soon as they gain power, they try to shut down future elections, where they can be challenged.
This potentially costly move has been made with no vote or discussion at the council.”
