EDP LGR articleEarly in 2025 the national government proposed that Norfolk should be reorganized into one or more Unitary Authorities (UA). At the same time, government proposed a Mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk. These two proposals are independent.
The current structure for Little Melton is -
- Norfolk County Council - responsible for Education, Waste Disposal, Highways (most roads but not all), etc
- South Norfolk Council - responsible for Waste Collection, Planning, etc
- SNC are conducting a survey
- Little Melton Parish Council - run by volunteers - responsible for the Playing field, play area, village hall, etc
- We are close to the border with Norwich City Council
- Norwich City are conducting a survey
The proposal is to merge levels 1 & 2. Parish and Town councils will remain largely unchanged. Little Melton Parish Council (LMPC) is in favour of a single UA as it should save money and simplify areas that interact (eg Planning and Highways) - at present, some of the Highways issues that parishioners raise with the PC can be hard to resolve because responsibility can fall on both the upper tier councils. However, the upper tier councils for all of Norfolk are not in agreement about how they should be restructured! See the EDP article.
The map published by the EDP shows an enlarged Norwich City that includes LM, Hethersett and Wymondham. There are concerns that this could make LM a target for future large housing development as other parts of the proposed UA are already highly developed. SNC have only recently approved plans that will see 35 houses built at Elm Farm at some point in the next 10 years, as part of the Greater Norwich Local Plan, which is supposed to cover housing needs to 2038. These proposals are more acceptable than the alternatives that were proposed and we don't want to see the whole subject opened up again! Apparently the City proposal is preferred by most District councils, other than SNC.
LMPC is in favour of Norfolk County's proposal for a single UA because -
- It saves the most money - some of the alternatives actually cost extra money
- It avoids the cost and disruption of splitting up the major services that are already organized at county level
- It provides the greatest flexibility for future housing development and offers the best prospect that services such as health and roads can be provided to support the development
- It avoids creating arbitrary boundaries which result in neighbours getting different services and access to education etc. There will still be boundaries at county level but that is better than the alternatives. The EDP map shows LM on the edge of Norwich City with a thin corridor of East Norfolk to the west and then West Norfolk not far away - this seems to be a strange arrangement that could see some children traveling long distances to schools.
Norfolk County and South Norfolk are both holding consultations (see the above links) - please let them know your views. The final decision rests with government - our MP is Ben Goldsborough so please let him know as well.
LMPC has no objection to the proposal for a Mayor but would have preferred it to happen after the UA structure has been decided!
