A compelling case for creating a new Greater Norwich Council has been set out as part of the biggest overhaul of local government in half a century.
The new report, which will be considered by councillors at a meeting this evening (18 March), sets out the case for why there is a need to create a new Greater Norwich Unitary Council as part of a three-unitary model to cover the whole of Norfolk.
Mike Stonard, leader of Norwich City Council, said: “Greater Norwich is unique within Norfolk, a distinct urban entity with different needs, challenges and opportunities to its largely rural hinterland. Its economy and demography are unlike any other part of the county.
“It is the economic and cultural capital of the region and it drives growth. That is why Greater Norwich needs its own single council, where people who live and work here, who understand the city, and who really know their local communities, can represent the interests of their residents.
“A single unitary council for Greater Norwich would coordinate all key services and ensure better outcomes for citizens, to improve their lives, including coordinated improvements in education, social care, children’s services, and housing, and coordinating with the local NHS. In this way, it would be better able to tackle inequalities, improve educational attainment, develop workplace skills, improve health, and ensure better life opportunities for citizens, all of which would improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life.
“It would also be able to adopt an integrated transport plan to make getting into and around the city easier, coordinating all modes of transport so that they work together better for people.”
The new report is based around four interdependent pillars – economic ambition, enhancing public service delivery, financial resilience and connectivity. It also demonstrates the ambition of being a stable, sustainable and effective 21st century local council which can deliver from day one – and for the next 50 years.
Further details show Greater Norwich to be a high growth city, home to 31 per cent of Norfolk’s businesses and with a diverse and increasing talent pool. Greater Norwich is a £9.9 billion economy, supporting 158,000 jobs and 10,500 businesses.
The case for a Greater Norwich follows on from work across all seven of Norfolk’s district council partners which set out why a three-unitary model is the best solution for Norfolk.
Other benefits of a Greater Norwich Unitary Authority:
- secure strategic economic growth, based around Norwich’s distinct dynamic, productive, and inclusive economy, while supporting the wider region of Norfolk to prosper
- harnessing the city’s unique opportunities for regeneration and renewal to build a thriving net zero economy
- promoting the city centre as a hub for innovation and creativity
- be a sustainable authority, able to transform and deliver high-quality public services
- be strongly positioned to create public services that are not only fit for today’s challenges but will last into the future
- prioritise creating access to high-quality, health-promoting jobs
- capitalise on Norwich's unique strengths, including the academic excellence of its universities, through joint working with the city’s education institutions, cultural heritage, and strong local networks
- allow a future Norfolk and Suffolk Mayoral Combined County Authority to capitalise on powers and funding, accelerating the rate of delivery and powering up the region
A full proposal will be developed and submitted to Government by 26 September.
Read the full report – a case for a Greater Norwich Unitary Authority
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