Let's rejuvenate this thread. Without any particular district in mind I'm in favour of of a unitary local government for Norfolk. My logic behind this is that, whilst the promised cost savings seem worthwhile; many of the district councils just haven't been soundly managed. Norwich City and Waveney (yes I know it's in Suffolk) have received public criticism for inadequate financial control. As if to confirm the judgment, S.Norfolk and Breckland are combining some services as a cost saving - and Waveney is trying to do as much as posible with Suffolk Coastal ... they even share a Chief Executive.

Greater Norwich as a unitary government doesn't seem either a sound decision or take into account the views of several local Labour MPs. Hey ho - suspicion of political gerrymandering.

The Broads Authority, as a quasi National Park was excluded from the Boundary Committee's investigations. What wasn't possible, was to exclude the BA from the potential effects of Unitary Local Government. Assume a single, unitary Norfolk. The county council would inherit all of the BA nominations from the constituent district councils + the two they already have. I make this seven nominations. This could prove a considerable power base and offer the possibility of 'en bloc' voting. Such a group of members might:
i) restrict the ability of the Chief Executive to direct policy - they're all pretty used to that.
ii) put the wind up Defra who theoretically control the BA.
iii) Maybe provide some facility for electing BA members. NCC could run the direct elections for their own nominated seats, possibly even in parallel with their own elections.

Pity - a bit of a missed opportunity ... so far. OF

Isn't it time that the world at large and politicians in particular woke up to the fact that these academics are fine for a second opinion but a disaster when given control. That may sound unkind but a career in academia by definition precludes the necessary experience of the real world.

Thank goodness that the report on the potential abandonment of coastal defences was leaked to the public before it all became a fait accompli. It has allowed another breathe of fresh air to blow in the murky recesses of the quango culture.

Some of us can recollect when there was a call by a Professor at the UEA to give up the defence of the Broads Coastline and adopt a programme called "managed retreat". He was not just an academic he was also the Chairman on the Environment Committee of the Broads Authority. The hypothesis of rising sea levels and global warming being used as justification for this notion.

We now find that this is no longer in the realms of hypothesis it has become a reality. It has been adopted by Natural England and other quangoes as a future policy. They even suggest putting the originator of the plan in charge of the committee to consider it.

Curiously the Broads Authority who started this hare running now pretend that they have 'no view' on this proposal. The Chairman of the Broads Authority also just happens to be a professor at the same University.

We learned at one of the Public meetings that at least three years ago members of the organisations associated with this scheme were taken on a secret trip to see where these new defence lines were going to be set up.

These recent meetings have been attended by many local residents who think that such a cavalier attitude to their lives and work is outrageous. Fortunately they have the support of their local MP.

This breath of fresh air - surprise, surprise - is targeted at the quango culture established by Government to circumvent the democratic system.

Thank goodness people are waking up to the " we know what is good for you" attitude of those temporarily set to govern us. .