Ipswich Borough Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday 24 September 2025, to discuss a range of topics including local government reorganisation in Suffolk, and a proposal to establish an Ipswich Youth Council. Also to be discussed is a Community Governance Review of Ipswich.

Here's a summary of the key items from the agenda:

Local Government Reorganisation - Case for Change

A report from Councillor Neil MacDonald is included in the Public Reports Pack regarding local government reorganisation, specifically the 'Case for Change'. The report provides the council with a draft of the Case for Change compiled by the district and borough councils of Suffolk, proposing that the best unitary council model for Suffolk is three councils providing high quality, local services to communities and achieving Best Value¹. The C-25-09 LGR - Case for Change report includes the draft Case for Change to Three Councils for Suffolk as Appendix 1, the draft unmodified submission as Appendix 2, the invitation letter as Appendix 3 and interim plan feedback as Appendix 4.

The report states that the government indicated its desire to move away from two-tier local government in its English Devolution White Paper published on 16 December 2024². The report also mentions that on 5 February 2025, the government announced that Suffolk had been accepted onto the Devolution Priority Programme, alongside Norfolk, meaning that Suffolk has agreed to progress a Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk and Local Government Reorganisation to an ambitious timetable.

The report recommends that the council notes the content of the draft Case for Change to Three Councils for Suffolk and the Unmodified Submission and recommends them to Executive for consideration and approval.

Community Governance Review of Ipswich

A report from Councillor Bryony Rudkin is included in the Public Reports Pack regarding a Community Governance Review of Ipswich. The report notes that proposed local government re-organisation is expected to leave the area currently within Ipswich Borough Council's boundaries as the only part of a larger unitary authority without a Town or Parish Council. In light of this it is proposed that a Community Governance Review be undertaken of the whole of the Borough to determine whether alternative Community Governance arrangements should be made, for example, the creation of an Ipswich Town Council. The terms of reference for the Community Governance Review are set out at Appendix 1 and the timetable at Appendix 2.

The report recommends that a Community Governance Review be conducted, in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007³; that the Terms of Reference and Timetable for the Review be approved and that the Chief Executive be authorised to take all necessary steps to conduct the Review, consulting with the Electoral Review Working Group as necessary.

Motion to Establish an Ipswich Youth Council

Councillor Nathan Wilson has submitted a motion to establish the Ipswich Youth Council, open to young people aged 14-18 who live in Ipswich. The council is asked to resolve to grant authority to the Chief Executive to establish the Ipswich Youth Council, ensure the Youth Council has a clear structure, allocate appropriate support and resources to facilitate its work, hold an annual joint meeting between Ipswich Youth Council representatives and Ipswich Borough Councillors to strengthen dialogue and collaboration and continue working with partners such as Volunteering Matters⁴, Suffolk County Council, schools and other local youth organisations to promote participation and representation.