The King's Lynn and West Norfolk Joint Panel Meeting was held to discuss and endorse the final proposal for local government reorganisation (LGR) in Norfolk, with the aim of submitting it to the Secretary of State by 26 September 2025. The panel supported recommendations to both the cabinet and full council, including endorsing the 'Future Norfolk: People, Place, Progress – Final Proposal for a Three-Unitary Model for Local Government Reorganisation in Norfolk'. The Chief Executive was delegated authority, in consultation with the Leader, to make any necessary non-material amendments to the Final Proposal.

Local Government Reorganisation in Norfolk

The main item of business was the final proposal for LGR in Norfolk, specifically a three-unitary model. Councillor Alistair Beales, Leader of the Council, introduced the report, and Kate Blakemore, Chief Executive, provided further details. The proposal involves establishing three new unitary councils: Greater Norwich, East Norfolk, and West Norfolk. The proposal was developed collaboratively by six district councils, with support from Inner Circle Consulting.

Key points from the discussion:

• Support for the Proposal: Several councillors, including Councillor Heneghan and Councillor Kemp, expressed their support for the proposal, highlighting the opportunities a new authority would bring and the clarity it would provide regarding service delivery.

• Financial Viability: Councillor Kemp sought assurance on the financial calculations and the viability of taking on new services like Children Services, Adult Social Care, and Transport Services. Councillor Alistair Beales assured the panel that the numbers had been thoroughly analysed and were affordable, though he acknowledged there were inherent risks in projections. Michelle Drewery, Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer, referred to a previous member briefing that outlined the financial figures, based on the 2025/2026 budget of all eight authorities.

• Financial Figures: Councillor Kemp noted that it would have been useful to have seen the financial figures in the report.

• Financial Sustainability: Councillor Colwell raised concerns about financial sustainability and the classification of earmarked reserves as a red risk. Michelle Drewery clarified that the red rating was due to the council's policy of maintaining a minimum 5% general fund reserve, and that the budget shortfall was being actively addressed through a savings and efficiency plan.

• Suffolk's Proposals: Councillor Crofts questioned the implications of Suffolk's proposal to have only one unitary authority. Councillor Alistair Beales explained that the Secretary of State could approve a proposal with modifications, and that Suffolk's population presented a challenge for a three-unitary model.

• Local Representation: Councillor Kemp questioned the implications on residents if there was not a local town configuration. Councillor Alistair Beales responded that local flavour could not be represented from one location, and that the success of a council depended on quality and management.

• Boundaries: Councillor Colwell expressed surprise at the inclusion of Attleborough and Watton in the boundaries, noting the travel time for residents to engage with politics in West Norfolk. Councillor Alistair Beales acknowledged the importance of culture and villages, and assured the panel that there would be hubs in Dereham and Thetford.

• Staffing Costs: Councillor Parish questioned the cost of employment of staff, including appointments and redundancies, in the shadow authority. Michelle Drewery assured the panel that this had been considered in the modelling, which included a reduction in senior officers and the expectation that staffing reductions could be met through vacant posts and natural slippage.

• Debt Apportionment: Councillor Kemp questioned whether the County Council's £900 million debt had been taken into account. Michelle Drewery explained that the proposals set out the modelling around a revenue budget which included servicing of the County Council debt, and that the apportionment of the debt would be determined by the new unitaries going forward. Councillor Long commented on the importance of the debt being proportioned equally amongst the unitaries.

The Panel supported the recommendations to Cabinet and Full Council to note and endorse the Final Proposal for a three-unitary model for local government reorganisation in Norfolk, and to delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to make any necessary non-material amendments to the Final Proposal and submit it to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government.