Editing Norfolk (section)

===Norwich Unitary Authority dispute (2006–2010)===
In October 2006, the [[Department for Communities and Local Government]] produced a Local Government White Paper inviting councils to submit proposals for unitary restructuring. In January 2007 Norwich submitted its proposal, but this was rejected in December 2007 as it did not meet the criteria for acceptance. In February 2008, the [[Boundary Committee for England]] (from 1 April 2010 incorporated in the [[Local Government Boundary Commission for England]]) was asked to consider alternative proposals for the whole or part of Norfolk, including whether Norwich should become a [[unitary authority]], separate from Norfolk County Council. In December 2009, the Boundary Committee recommended a single unitary authority covering all of Norfolk, including Norwich.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=3679 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801125709/http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=3679 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2008 |title=Local Government White Paper, Strong and Prosperous Communities |publisher=Norfolk County Council |access-date=10 September 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norwich.gov.uk/site_files/pages/City_Council__Unitary_Council__The_business_case.html |title=The business case for unitary Norwich |publisher=Norwich City Council |access-date=13 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207121634/http://www.norwich.gov.uk/site_files/pages/City_Council__Unitary_Council__The_business_case.html |archive-date=7 December 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1509022 |title=Proposals for future unitary structures: Stakeholder consultation |publisher=[[Communities and Local Government]] |access-date=13 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823153938/http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1509022 |archive-date=23 August 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__documents/lgbce-documents/draftfinal-reports-and-consultation-papers/2009/norfolk-sr-final-dec09.pdf |title=Our advice to the Secretary of State on unitary local government in Norfolk (PDF Document) |publisher=The Boundary Committee |date=7 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111080052/http://www.lgbce.org.uk/__documents/lgbce-documents/draftfinal-reports-and-consultation-papers/2009/norfolk-sr-final-dec09.pdf |archive-date=11 January 2012}}</ref>

However, on 10 February 2010, it was announced that, contrary to the December 2009 recommendation of the Boundary Committee, Norwich would be given separate unitary status.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/localgovernment/1463780 |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100304114510/http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/localgovernment/1463780 |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2010 |title=Minister's Statement of 10 February 2010 |publisher=[[Communities and Local Government]] |access-date=13 February 2010}}</ref> The proposed change was strongly resisted, principally by Norfolk County Council and the Conservative opposition in Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090224/halltext/90224h0001.htm |title=Unitary Authorities |date=24 February 2009 |work=House of Commons Hansard Debates |publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |access-date=13 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424123857/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090224/halltext/90224h0001.htm |archive-date=24 April 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Reacting to the announcement, Norfolk County Council issued a statement that it would seek leave to challenge the decision in the courts.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.norfolk.gov.uk/consumption/idcplg?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&ssDocName=NCC074317&ssSourceNodeId=&ssTargetNodeId=3018 |title=Reaction to announcement on Local Government Reorganisation Announcement |date=10 February 2010 |work=News Archive |publisher=Norfolk County Council |access-date=13 February 2010}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> A letter was leaked to the local media in which the Permanent Secretary for the Department for Communities and Local Government noted that the decision did not meet all the criteria and that the risk of it "being successfully challenged in judicial review proceedings is very high".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Peter Housden's letter in full |newspaper=[[Eastern Daily Press]] |date=12 February 2010 |url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=NewsSplash&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED11%20Feb%202010%2020%3A18%3A28%3A560}}</ref> The Shadow Local Government and Planning Minister, [[Bob Neill]], stated that should the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] win the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], they would reverse the decision.<ref name=edp2feb>{{Cite news |title=At last, a verdict on Norfolk councils' future |author=Shaun Lowthorpe |newspaper=[[Eastern Daily Press]] |date=2 February 2010 |url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=NewsSplash&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED02+Feb+2010+09%3A25%3A04%3A570}}</ref>

Following the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], [[Eric Jack Pickles|Eric Pickles]] was appointed [[Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government]] on 12 May 2010 in a [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Conservative–Liberal Democrat coalition government]]. According to press reports, he instructed his department to take urgent steps to reverse the decision and maintain the status quo in line with the Conservative Party manifesto.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Government chief moves to axe Norwich unitary plans |first=Shaun |last=Lowthorpe |newspaper=[[Eastern Daily Press]] |date=14 May 2010 |url=http://www.edp24.co.uk/content/edp24/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=xDefault&itemid=NOED13%20May%202010%2019%3A12%3A43%3A450}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/159177711 |title=Pickles stops unitary councils in Exeter, Norwich and Suffolk |publisher=Department for Communities and Local Government |access-date=25 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100530091541/http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/159177711 |archive-date=30 May 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the unitary plans were supported by the Liberal Democrat group on the city council, and by [[Simon Wright (politician)|Simon Wright]], LibDem MP for [[Norwich South (UK Parliament constituency)|Norwich South]], who intended to lobby the party leadership to allow the changes to go ahead.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/new-bid-to-end-unitary-plans-1-472147 |title=New bid to end unitary plans |date=30 June 2010 |website=[[Great Yarmouth Mercury]] |language=en |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215175844/https://www.greatyarmouthmercury.co.uk/news/new-bid-to-end-unitary-plans-1-472147 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Local Government Act 2010]] to reverse the unitary decision for Norwich (and Exeter and Suffolk) received Royal Assent on 16 December 2010. The disputed award of unitary status had meanwhile been referred to the [[High Court of Justice|High Court]], and on 21 June 2010 the court ([[Mr. Justice Ouseley]], judge) ruled it unlawful, and revoked it. The city has therefore failed to attain unitary status, and the two-tier arrangement of County and District Councils (with Norwich City Council counted among the latter) remains as of 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=September by-elections for Exeter and Norwich |work=BBC News |access-date=19 July 2010 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10687867 |date=19 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724060449/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-10687867 |archive-date=24 July 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>