Press kit

Understanding the One Suffolk proposal

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One Suffolk is Suffolk County Council’s response to the call from Government to reorganise local councils and bring everything under one council for the whole county. That means one point of contact, one set of priorities, and one place to go when you need information.

The goal is simple:

  • Better services
  • Stronger voice for Suffolk
  • Greater value for your council tax

To find out more, read the full One Suffolk proposal online today or hear directly from Councillor Richard Rout, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for devolution, local government reform and NSIPs.

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Why one council for Suffolk?

One Suffolk is built to be resilient, sustainable, and truly connected to the communities it serves. The ambitious proposal will see millions  of pounds of public money saved and reinvested in frontline services and benefits for the whole of Suffolk.

One Suffolk is the only financially resilient option and will:

    • Save £78.2 million after the first five years
    • Save £39.4 million a year after the first five years

On the other hand, three councils for Suffolk will:

  • Cost an additional £145.3 million after the first five years
  • Cost an additional £13.1 million the fire five years

Why Now?

Change is already underway. The Government has asked Suffolk’s councils to simplify. That could mean one, two, or even three new councils. But the choice we make now will shape how effective, fair and affordable local services are for years to come.

Right now, Suffolk has six different councils doing overlapping jobs.

This means:

    • Multiple sets of senior salaries.
    • Duplicated buildings and admin costs.
    • Delays, confusion and wasted money.

If we don’t speak up, we risk ending up with a complicated system that costs more and delivers less. One Suffolk offers a smarter alternative:

  • One team making clearer, faster decisions.
  • One structure that keeps council tax as low as possible.
  • One council with the power to reinvest savings into frontline services.

Where would the money go?

This isn’t about cutting corners. It’s about doing more with what we have. One Suffolk will deliver:

  • Financial resilience, low council tax
  • £40m new deal for market towns
  • Communities empowered to lead
  • A proactive highways service
  • Unified, consistent and locally shaped planning
  • A modern, tech-drive, innovative council
  • A resilient and growing economy
  • Strong voice for Suffolk and its future

Make the case

If you believe in One Suffolk, help others understand why. Talk to your neighbours, show your support online, and spread the word. Let’s build something smarter, simpler and better together.

Not sure about One Suffolk? That’s fair. Many people across the county have questions, and rightly so. If you’re open to finding out more, this is the moment to take a fresh look. Many others are doing the same.

Your views can shape how One Suffolk works for the whole county, read more and see how this would change things in your community.

Still not sure? Read on to find out more about Local Government Reorganisation and the One Suffolk proposal.

Read One Suffolk Proposal

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