Stage three arrives in early July when the committee publishes its proposals. Then there is a period of further consultation before it makes its final proposals to the Government at the end of December.

The review process started after Norwich declared that it wanted "home rule" for the city, when all the councils in Norfolk were asked to consider how unitary authorities could be implemented. They were then asked to make alternative proposals, to use the jargon of the review.

At the same time anyone else could make their representations, and various bodies and individuals did. If you're into politics then you'll be fascinated by all the stuff at www.boundarycommittee.org.uk

The proposal for a "virtual local authority" to serve travellers and migrant workers certainly made me sit up when I read it.

I hadn't fully appreciated that Norfolk County Council will only remain if the Boundary Committee is unable to identify an alternative proposal or if the Secretary of State does not choose to implement an alternative proposal.

This seems unlikely given that the Government has already suggested that it might have accepted the Norwich proposal if its boundaries were revised.

So once again, I wonder about Swaffham and Breckland.

Breckland's website still states: "Breckland Council would prefer to maintain the status quo".

Given all that's said by the Boundary Committee, that's not living in the real world.

In the same way, it's three-authority alternative proposal, placing Swaffham in a huge new South Norfolk with a northern boundary running roughly between Heacham and Bungay, doesn't seem convincing.

I just don't see it meeting the criteria requiring that proposals have a cross section of support, evidence of strategic leadership and neighbourhood empowerment. I'd be surprised if it appears anywhere in the Boundary Committee's list of proposals and I'll be looking for a hat to eat if it's the preferred option.

Of the existing councils' proposals, I believe the most likely to replace the original two-authority model is West Norfolk's four-authority suggestion. This splits Breckland down the middle with Swaffham going to a slightly-expanded West Norfolk.

Is there anyone out there who thinks that the Breckland proposal was anything other than a device to place Breckland at the centre of a new council's area? There really does need to be a better reason than that for choosing it!