The King's Lynn and West Norfolk Council cabinet met to discuss and endorse the final proposal for local government reorganisation (LGR) in Norfolk, recommending that the full council also endorse the plan. The proposal supports a three-unitary model for Norfolk, and it will now be submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for consideration. The cabinet also addressed questions and comments regarding the proposal, including those about financial savings, service delivery, and the role of parish councils.

Local Government Reorganisation in Norfolk

The main item discussed was the final proposal for LGR in Norfolk, titled Future Norfolk: People, Place, Progress – Final Proposal for a Three-Unitary Model for Local Government Reorganisation in Norfolk. The proposal recommends the creation of three new unitary authorities: Greater Norwich, East Norfolk, and West Norfolk. The cabinet agreed to recommend that the full council endorse the proposal.

The key points of the proposal included:

• Improved local services through tailored, place-based delivery
• Stronger leadership and accountability with councils rooted in their communities
• Support for economic growth aligned with the Norfolk and Suffolk Mayoral Strategic Authority
• Financial sustainability with projected net benefits of £220 million over eight years
• Preservation of local identity through boundaries reflecting existing communities
• Optimal size and scale, with each council serving 300,000-400,000 residents
• Service reform and innovation prioritising locally designed, integrated services

Councillor Michael de Whalley, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, and Councillor Susanne Lintern, Cabinet Member for Culture and Events, asked questions about the savings to be achieved, preventative services, and the role of parish councils. Councillor Alistair Beales, Leader of the Council, explained that the proposal had been cautious and realistic in terms of savings, and that some services would be kept separate across the three proposed Unitary Authorities to properly reflect local need. He also stated that proposals for a King's Lynn Town Council would be progressed, with the Full Council asked to consider establishing a committee to take proposals forward at their meeting in October.

Councillor Jo Rust, Cabinet Member for People and Communities, commended the collegiate and cross-party response to the proposal, and queried why James Wild MP was not included in the list of supporters. Councillor Beales responded that Mr Wild wanted to see the final submission before putting his name to it.

Councillor Chris Morley, Cabinet Member for Finance, highlighted and commended the wide range of consultation which had been carried out and showed that local connection and local services was important to residents, whilst remaining financially sustainable. Councillor Sandra Squire, Cabinet Member for Environment and Coastal, commented that a West Unitary was the best for residents as many residents did not feel well supported by Norfolk County Council.

Councillor Simon Ring, Deputy Leader of the Council, provided an overview of the importance of the preventative agenda and the benefits it would bring to the lives of residents, society and financially.

The report also included an Equality Impact Assessment, which concluded that a full assessment would be conducted once a decision had been made on which proposal would be accepted.

The decision was made:

To respond to the statutory invite from the Secretary of State to submit a final proposal for local government reorganisation in Norfolk. This proposal offers a compelling and credible pathway to reform that is financially sound, strategically aligned, and rooted in local identity.

Local Government Reorganisation Readiness

The cabinet heard that work was already underway within the council to ensure that it was ready for the next period of LGR, with proposals around LGR readiness and next steps likely to be presented to members before Christmas 2025/early Spring 2026.

Joint Panel Recommendations

The cabinet noted that the Joint Panel had considered the Final Proposal for Local Government Reorganisation in Norfolk and supported the Cabinet Recommendations at its meeting on 15 September. Councillor Beales thanked the Joint Panel for their questions at their meeting.