One Suffolk- Local Government Reorganisation- Results from Suffolk County Council's Consultation

Suffolk County Council publishes 'One Suffolk' proposal

Suffolk County Council has published its full business case for 'One Suffolk', a proposal to replace the county's six existing councils with one new unitary authority responsible for all local and county-wide services.

The full document is 314 pages long, but a Residents' Summary has also been produced to highlight the main points and provide an overview of the proposal.

What is 'One Suffolk'?

According to Suffolk County Council, One Suffolk aims to simplify local government by bringing together county and district council services under one organisation. The proposal focuses on creating services that are "smarter, simpler and better":

• Smarter – combining data and resources across the county to help identify and solve problems earlier.
• Simpler – providing one main point of contact for residents, partners, and organisations, instead of several different councils.
• Better – tailoring services to local needs while benefiting from the efficiencies of one larger organisation.

The council suggests that this could improve access to services, reduce duplication, and help recruit and retain skilled staff in key areas such as social care, education, and housing.

How does devolution fit in?

On 2 October, Suffolk County Council voted in favour of creating a Mayoral Combined County Authority (MCCA) for Norfolk and Suffolk. If also approved by Norfolk County Council, this would unlock over £1 billion of investment for the region over 30 years.

The MCCA would focus on regional priorities such as housing, transport, skills, and infrastructure — shifting more decision-making powers from central government to local level.

Suffolk County Council says that a single unitary council could strengthen this devolution arrangement by providing one clear voice for Suffolk, helping coordinate growth plans and public service delivery across the county.

The One Suffolk business case and the Residents' Summary are both available to read online. Residents are encouraged to review the information and follow updates from Suffolk County Council as discussions continue:

One Suffolk Residents' Summary