West Norfolk Council leader Alistair Beales says there is a ‘strong case’ for two-tier system to be retained

The leader of West Norfolk Council believes there is a “strong case” for the retention of a two-tier system in the county amid rumours that district authorities could be scrapped.

Doubts have been cast over the future of the borough council in recent weeks ahead of the publication of a White Paper which could call for it to be merged with Norfolk County Council into a new unitary authority.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has stressed that a decision has yet to be made.

And at West Norfolk Council’s full meeting last Thursday, leader Alistair Beales said he believes there is “a huge amount of merit to the two-tier system in an area like this”.

He told councillors that while he will wait for the Government’s White Paper to be published, he has used an AI programme to ask about the potential benefits of a unitary authority - and was told it “may be able to” reduce overall expenditure.

However, Cllr Beales added: “I think there is all to play for.

“Is there much to be proud of in the two-tier system in the achievements of both the county council and this council, and councils like it? Yes there is.

“If you ask the residents in the street, ‘Who is the council?’, it is us. It is always us.

“To that end, I think we would make a very strong case for the retention of the two-tier system - but what I would say is… let’s wait and see what the White Paper says.”

Keir Starmer’s Labour Party ministers are believed to be in favour of scrapping district councils as part of a new shake-up of local government.

The rumours follow an in-principle devolution deal to bring more powers and funding to Norfolk being scrapped following the general election.

Cllr Beales said he has already entered discussions with Norfolk and Suffolk authorities to discuss potential ramifications.

“I think that is very important, because whilst we will look at it carefully, there will always be others that have an angle that we won’t, and it is important we speak with our peers about that,” he added.