TLC magazine Autumn 2025 – text version - Biggest shake-up in 50 years of local government coming to our city and county

Biggest shake-up in 50 years of local government coming to our city and county

Across the country the way councils are structured and deliver services to you is being overhauled. Norfolk is in the first wave of this change.

Norwich, along with the seven other district councils in Norfolk and the county council, has been asked by the Government to propose new council models as part of its programme of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR).

Under its LGR plans, the Government has said that all local services need to be delivered by individual councils within their area – these are called Unitary Authorities (or Unitary Councils). Currently, at Norwich City Council we deliver services such as planning, housing, environmental health, and waste and recycling services. Other services such as adult and children’s services, education, and transport and infrastructure are delivered by Norfolk County Council.

There are three different options being proposed for Norfolk, which the Government will decide on:

• Three new unitary councils – a new Greater Norwich Council, a unitary for the east and one for the west
• Two unitary councils
• A single council for the whole of Norfolk 

At the city council we believe our residents will be best served by creating three brand new bigger local councils. We are working with our partner councils – Breckland, Broadland, Great Yarmouth, King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, and North Norfolk – to make the case for three new councils to serve Norfolk.

Having three councils serving Norfolk recognises Norwich’s status as a major regional city and ensures that other areas – including North Norfolk, the Broads, Brecks and Fens, and the many market towns across the county, retain their identities and characteristics.

Our proposal is built around three principles:

• People – strengthening local democracy and giving communities a stronger voice
• Place – celebrating the identity and strengths of each area
• Progress – delivering sustainable, future-ready services

We will submit our proposal to the Government in late September for three new and bigger unitary councils for Norfolk. Following this, the Government will take time to consider all options and will carry out a public consultation before making a decision on what should happen next.

This decision is expected sometime in spring 2026.