Reform seeks legal challenge over new councils

10 hours ago

Joao SantosLocal Democracy reporter

News image — Michael Hadwen, the new Reform UK leader at Suffolk County Council, said a legal challenge could be mounted as early as next week over local government reforms in Suffolk

Joao Santos /LDRS Michael Hadwen is standing in front of a glass building at Suffolk county council. He is wearing a grey suit, white shirt and yellow tie. — Michael Hadwen, the new Reform UK leader at Suffolk County Council, said a legal challenge could be mounted as early as next week over local government reforms in Suffolk

The new Reform UK administration at the county council said it would seek legal action - as early as this week - against the government's plans to split Suffolk into three areas.

Michael Hadwen, who is expected to be appointed the authority's leader on Thursday, branded the planned changes to the councils as "madness".

The government wantsto scrap Suffolk's county, district and borough councils and replace them with three unitary authorities with more powers.

Andrew Stringer, the main opposition leader at the county council, said this was a "poor start" for the new administration.

Hadwen warned the new unitaries would end up fighting for the same resources and services.

"I don't want to see my county divided, so we are going to be mounting a legal challenge against the government," he said.

A pre-action letter – the step before a full-blown court claim – is expected to be sent to the government next week after the council's annual general meeting, when Hadwen is set to formally take over as leader.

Both Norfolk and Essex county councils, where Reform also became the leading force, have already announced they would be seeking a judicial review.

Hadwen admitted there would be a cost to taxpayers should the challenge go to court, but said it would be "considerably less" than if the reforms were implemented.

The announcement met opposition from those who led the campaign for the county to be split into three.

Neil MacDonald, Ipswich Borough Council's Labour leader, said time would be better spent moving forward on an Ipswich bypass or addressing the state of the roads.

Stringer, the Green Party leader, said: "We think a unitary government gives us the best chance of bringing services together while having accountability."

The county's Conservative Group, which originally campaigned against the three-unitary proposal, also came out against the legal challenge.

Richard Rout, the new group leader, said that disliking the decision was not enough for a judicial review.

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