Devolution votes are in — where did West Suffolk, Babergh, Mid Suffolk, Ipswich and East Suffolk councils stand?

Councils across Suffolk have held votes on how to go about devolution — where did yours stand?

Suffolk's county, district and borough councils have held debates over the past week ahead of today's Government deadline to submit their first plans outlining their preference for how many authorities should replace them.

The debates separated councillors into those who believed a single unitary authority would be the best option for Suffolk and those who would rather have two or three councils.

Suffolk County Council subscribed to the 'One Suffolk' mentality, arguing it would deliver the best quality services while making the most savings out of any other option.

At the district and borough debates, however, the conclusion was very different.

Ipswich Borough Council:

Councillors in Ipswich were the first to state their intentions with a unanimous vote in early February backing the creation of a Greater Ipswich authority.

They argued the borough's needs, as a more urban centre, were different to those of the rest of the county.

Similarly, during the borough's debate on Wednesday night, councillors once again showed unity with a unanimous vote to back a multi-authority system.

Cllr Neil MacDonald, Ipswich's leader said: "By unanimously supporting this interim plan, we are reinforcing our case for a governance model that gives Ipswich the leadership, investment and representation it deserves.

"The case for multiple unitaries, including a strong unitary for Ipswich, has never been more compelling.”

East Suffolk Council:

In East Suffolk, though not unanimously united, councillors were still overwhelmingly in favour of multiple authorities with 42 votes for, three against and three abstentions.

Cllr Caroline Topping, the district's leader, said: "The arguments that one, remote council can represent and work for such a huge population simply do not stack up and only multiple unitaries would have the capacity and local connections to deliver exactly what our different communities need."

The council papers stated an eastern council, as part of a two-unitary solution, would be able to connect the coast and provide a greater focus on trade, tourism and energy creation.

Babergh District Council

Cllr Deborah Saw, Babergh's leader, compared a single unitary council to 'settling for a county council with a new wrapper'.

The strength of feeling was replicated in the final vote, with councillors deciding in favour of multiple authorities with 21 for, three against and one abstention.

Like other councils, Babergh would need its boundaries redrawn to accommodate a two or three-unitary solution — the extent of this change should become clearer by the time of the next deadline for a more complete plan, in September.

Cllr Saw said: “Local government reorganisation must not be seen purely an exercise in giving money back to the Treasury – it is an opportunity to redesign public services from the ground up."

Mid Suffolk District Council:

In Mid Suffolk, devolution drama began shortly after the county council's decision to join the Government's priority programme and ask to delay the May elections, with four Conservative councillors defecting from the party in early February.

Wednesday's debate saw similar opposition to the county council's plans, with 25 councillors voting for a multi-authority solution, three voting against and one abstaining.

Cllr Andy Mellen, the leader, said Suffolk needed councils anchored in communities.

He said: “At the end of this process we need something better to emerge for our residents and our communities.

"We need something new that can last long into the future — not a short-term fix.

Cllr John Whitehead, one of the councillors who defected last month, said rather than a rebranded county council, Suffolk would be better served by 'super districts'.

He added: “Two or three unitary councils for Suffolk based on the district council ethos of universal service provision would create a superior solution to service delivery while retaining local democracy and local oversight.”

West Suffolk Council:

Though more sympathetic to the idea of a single unitary authority covering the whole of the county, West Suffolk councillors still decided to back multiple unitaries with 33 votes for, 10 against and four abstentions.

The report outlined a western unitary as one able to address an economy focused on agriculture, agri-tech, manufacturing and economic connections between key towns and into the Cambridge sub-region.

Cllr Cliff Waterman, the leader, said: "There's no evidence that larger unitary authorities provide better outcomes.

"The pursuit of pure savings will not bring better services or deliver the outcomes residents need."