A multi-million-pound consultancy contract supporting Norfolk’s council reorganisation has been cancelled amid a political row over cost and specialist expertise.
A multi-million-pound consultancy contract designed to support the reorganisation of local government in Norfolk has been cancelled.
Norfolk County Council had appointed consultancy firm Inner Circle to provide specialist expertise as the county prepares to replace its existing county, district, city and borough councils with three new unitary authorities.
The contract was agreed in April, shortly before the county council elections, by then-chief executive Tom McCabe.
Reform UK deputy council leader Robin Hunter-Clarke, whose party took control of the authority in May, says he cancelled the agreement because he did not believe it represented value for money.
He says the potential maximum cost was £6.3 million, although an earlier council report described the contract as being worth up to £5 million.
Former Conservative county council leader Kay Mason Billig has criticised the decision, arguing that specialist outside support was necessary because existing council staff are already managing frontline services alongside what she described as an exceptionally complicated reorganisation.
Norfolk’s district, city and borough councils say they were not consulted before the contract was cancelled and are seeking urgent answers from the county council.
The Government has decided Norfolk’s eight existing councils will be replaced by three unitary authorities, which are expected to take over responsibility for services from April 2028.
Environmental Groups Question Norfolk Housing Levy
Traffic Concerns Raised Over Carrow Regeneration
Grant Holt Takes On 93-Mile Charity Walk
Man Arrested After Woman Found Dead In Dersingham
Norfolk Primary School Celebrates 200 Years
Olly Murs To Headline New Great Yarmouth Festival
Gorleston Ocean Room Sold For £500,000
Nearly 1,700 Young People Supported Over Summer
Extra Late Train For Norwich City Fans
Man Jailed After Great Yarmouth Shop Robbery Attempt
Norfolk Desalination Sites To Be Shortlisted
Canaries Continue Tributes To Michael Wynn Jones
Anglia Square Demolition Enters New Phase
Four Arrested After Unlicensed Music Event
Driver Jailed For Fatal Great Yarmouth Seafront Crash
Parents Raise Concerns Over Chapelfield Play Equipment
Hundreds Take Part In Marriott’s Way 10K
Labour Becomes Largest Group On Great Yarmouth Council
Lavender View Independent Living Scheme Opens
