Frequently Asked Questions

Why is local government in Norfolk changing?

The Government announced in December its intention to replace existing councils in all two-tier areas and create new unitary councils as part of the English Devolution White Paper. They asked councils in Norfolk to put forward the model they think would be best for Norfolk within that framework for the Government to review.

When will Local Government change?

The Government's timetable was to receive ideas about the possible changes by the end of September. They will now consult on these from 19 November 2025 to 11 January 2026. A decision is expected in Spring 2026 on how they want to proceed. On that basis new Councils could be elected to in Spring 2027, and "old" Councils cease in Spring 2028. 

When can I have my say?

The Government consultation is now open and we encourage all residents to share their views.

What changes will residents see in services? Waste, libraries, planning etc.?

Protecting delivery and continuity will be an important part of transition. In the medium-term, we hope through three unitaries residents will start to see real improvements. Council services that are more responsive, more local, make better use of technology - and reduce costs to allow more reinvestment in local priorities. 

How will these changes affect council tax?

Residents already receive one bill, but it currently includes separate lines for district and county. In future, they will still get one bill and all residents in each new council area will pay the same. Future bill changes will depend on the new authorities' decisions and remain subject to nationally-set tax rules. 

Why not a single unitary for Norfolk?

We believe three unitaries keep decisions local, protect identity, and deliver better outcomes. A single unitary risks creating a remote 'super council' and losing local accountability.

Why not two unitary Councils for Norfolk?

We believe three unitaries keep decisions local, protect identity, and deliver better outcomes. A two unitary solution risks being the 'worst of both' worlds, still being too remote to really reflect local communities. 

Why these specific new Council geographies?

We carefully tested a wide range of models and options, considering guidance from the Government. We selected these new boundaries on the basis that:
•    We work, as far as possible, with existing District boundaries as the building blocks 
•    We support the creation of a new Greater Norwich to reflect the natural extent of the wider conurbation and provide the city with the space to grow
•    We create a new Western Unitary based on the shared economic geography around Breckland and King's Lynn 
•    We create a new 'Eastern' Unitary based on the Broads, Coast and Rural hinterlands of Eastern Norfolk 

Will creating new Councils save money?

Financial resilience is a key element of our proposals and is backed by our detailed financial plan. Our modelling shows all three councils are financially viable and together will deliver savings of £220m within the first eight-year period.
This is achieved by efficiencies of bringing services together, but also by working in new and more efficient ways, and focusing on prevention rather than just responding to very high-cost pressures.

How much will it cost to setup new councils?

We think we need to be realistic. Replacing 8 large, complex, organisations that employ thousands of people and provide services to almost a 1 million residents is not a simple task, regardless of the model the Government decides to put in place. We've prudently estimated £110m in upfront transition costs, but we think through transformation and innovation these will be fully repaid in around 4 years with ongoing annual savings.