Sent on behalf of Cllr John Ward, Babergh District Council leader, and Cllr Andy Mellen, Mid Suffolk District Council leader
Dear Town and Parish Clerks,
Today, Suffolk's five district and borough councils have submitted our business case for the creation of three unitary councils to the government.
The Three Councils for Suffolk Case for Change was endorsed at council meetings across the county this week – including Babergh on Tuesday, and Mid Suffolk last night.
It sets out a new model of three unitary councils - replacing the current six - which will save at least £34m a year, with £20m reinvested annually into vital local services. The new councils will be big enough to deliver, local enough to care - keeping decision-making rooted in communities while cutting duplication and waste.
While the submission to government marks a significant milestone, we are still in the relatively early stages of the local government reorganisation process.
So, what happens next?
In the coming months, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will launch a public consultation.
The government will then make a final decision on Suffolk’s new council structure next year. We have been told that this will be before the end of March 2026.
As a reminder, elections for the new shadow unitary authority or authorities are then expected to take place in May 2027, ahead of the new structure going live in April 2028.
You can read the full details of the case on the Three Councils for Suffolk website. We have also shared the latest media release, issued this afternoon, at the bottom of this email. You can also read about Suffolk County Council’s One Suffolk proposal here.
Thank you for all your input, questions, comments and feedback in recent months.
We will continue to keep you fully updated throughout the process, and will share details of the government’s consultation when they are available.
Kind regards
Cllr John Ward, Babergh District Council leader
Cllr Andy Mellen, Mid Suffolk District Council leader
Media release issued on behalf of Babergh District Council, East Suffolk Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, West Suffolk Council
Big enough to deliver, local enough to care
Plans to transform local services were agreed this week by Suffolk’s district and borough councils, as well as cabinet members, and have been submitted to the Government.
The proposals set out a new model of three unitary councils - replacing the current six - which will save at least £34m a year, with £20m reinvested annually into vital local services. The new councils will be “big enough to deliver, local enough to care”, keeping decision-making rooted in communities while cutting duplication and waste.
Backed by independent analysis from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), the proposals also show how £67.5m more could be unlocked every year by localising adult and children’s services, with a sharper focus on prevention and early help.
Every district and borough council in Suffolk has debated and approved the proposal, finalising the Case for Change. The proposals carry cross-party and geographic support, ensuring momentum for change.
The plans meet the Government’s criteria for unitary authorities - a clear rationale, sensible geographies, and areas you as residents can identify with and is based on robust, local evidence. For you, the change means simplicity: one unitary council where you live
The three proposed councils will serve Central & Eastern Suffolk, Western Suffolk and Ipswich & Southern Suffolk. And the proposed model will deliver:
- Value for money: Cutting six councils to three, self-funding in five years, unlocking £34m annual savings plus £20m reinvestment. Independent analysis shows a further £67.5m benefit from localised, prevention-led social care.
- Local first: Councils rooted in your communities, supporting voluntary groups and ensuring fairer funding.
- Fairer council tax: Equalisation within one year, with no household paying more by 2028/29 than they would under the current system.
- Better services: Local delivery, tailored to Suffolk’s diverse needs, geography and history.
- Stronger democracy: Councillors that are close to you and the communities they serve, with deep local knowledge and the capacity to represent you effectively. Smaller wards mean councillors are more accessible, responsive, and attuned to you and your local priorities.
- Innovation and improvement: More agile councils, better able to adapt and transform.
- A louder Suffolk voice: Stronger representation alongside the new Norfolk & Suffolk mayor.
The Three Councils For Suffolk Case for Change is rooted in public engagement, including over 2,200 survey responses to an online survey in which one-third of people ranked “being local” as their top priority for future councils.
Suffolk’s district and borough Leaders said:
“The people of Suffolk want their councils to be local, responsive and provide value for money. Our Case for Change delivers exactly that.
“The fact councils from very different parts of Suffolk have come together behind these plans shows their strength.
“By bringing services under one roof, we can focus on what really matters, from protecting vulnerable children and adults to tackling housing and infrastructure needs. Three councils for Suffolk is the right balance between strong leadership and genuine local delivery.”
Central Government is expected to launch a public consultation in November 2025, running until February 2026, before making a final decision.