The leader of Norfolk County Council has accused opponents of proposals for a single county-wide unitary authority of 'wilful gerrymandering of figures' to support alternative local government reorganisation plans.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Monday (13 October), Conservative leader Kay Mason Billig said there was ‘no substance’ to proposals for two or three unitary councils in Norfolk. She argued that a single council was the ‘only sensible option’ capable of delivering ‘substantial savings’ while remaining ‘local at the same time.’
Cllr Mason Billig added that it would be ‘extremely irresponsible’ for the Government to consider the alternative proposals as credible options.
Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group at County Hall, reportedly described the accusation as ‘plain outrageous.’ He said: ‘It's some brass neck to claim others figures don't stack up. She is actually accusing all the district councils in Norfolk of conspiring to fiddle the figures and knowingly promote dangerous and unsustainable proposals to Government.’
Want to know more about local government reorganisation? Check out: Local Government Reorganisation: What It Means and Why It Matters.
