The authority has given Downing Street until 12th June to provide information or face a full court claim.
Under the local government reorganisation plans, Suffolk County Council will cease to exist, with constituencies split across there unitary authorities. The proposal is part of a much wider overhaul of authorities across England which have already caused controversy due to their impact on May’s elections.
Reform UK’s Michael Hadwen, currently leader of Suffolk County Council, announced an intention to challenge the plan — and eventually stop the dissolution — in spring. The councillor has now submitted a pre-action letter outlining concerns and why there is a belief that the changes would be unlawful.
No other parties have been brought into discussions about the challenge, and no details contained within the letter have been made public other than the fact it questions justifications offered for the reorganisation and suggest the secretary of state has exceeded legal powers by trying to push through reorganisation.
Andrew Stringer, leader of the Greens on the council, has flagged the lack of public vote or debate on the challenge as ‘deeply concerning’.
‘I find it ironic that Reform made a great deal during their election campaign about their giving the public a chance to vote, yet as soon as they gain power they try to shut down future elections, where they can be challenged,’ he added.
Meanwhile, Richard Rout, who heads the Conservative group, has suggested the challenge is ‘spurious at best’ adding ‘the natural inference is that there is little in the letter that would survive being read in daylight’.
However, Hodwan has maintained that if the contents were made public it would potentially undermine the challenge. The UK Government now has until 12th June to provide a response.
Image: Paul Marlow / Unsplash
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