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Save Suffolk County Council – Scrap the New Strategic Direction
Result:
Thank you to everyone who signed my petition. It was presented to the former leader of Suffolk County Council, Jeremy Pembroke, before the full council meeting held in February 2011, when the New Strategic Direction was on the agenda. Since then, as most of you will know, Mr Pembroke has retired, apparently under pressure from the public, the local media, and Suffolk Conservative MPs, who had a discussion with him at the House of Commons. Mr Pembroke was eventually replaced by Cllr Mark Bee, who indicated that things would be different under his leadership. At the beginning of May the Guardian reported that 'A flagship Tory local authority has halted controversial "virtual council" plans to outsource all its services, after public opposition to spending cuts and a collapse in staff morale triggered a political revolt by backbenchers.' Ms Andrea Hill, the council's controversial chief executive, has been on extended gardening leave since the beginning of May, awaiting the outcome of an inquiry into her management methods.
Although this petition was only part of a general campaign to persuade the council to think again, it contributed to an overwhelming message from the Suffolk electorate that the New Strategic Direction was not the way to solve our funding problems. There were other petitions, including one aimed at keeping our libraries open, and the local media asked a lot of questions that Cllr Pembroke and others didn't seem to have the answers to.
There is still confusion about the way forward from here, and we know that there will be cuts, but the New Strategic Direction has been abandoned, so this petition has been closed. Thank you again.
Although this petition was only part of a general campaign to persuade the council to think again, it contributed to an overwhelming message from the Suffolk electorate that the New Strategic Direction was not the way to solve our funding problems. There were other petitions, including one aimed at keeping our libraries open, and the local media asked a lot of questions that Cllr Pembroke and others didn't seem to have the answers to.
There is still confusion about the way forward from here, and we know that there will be cuts, but the New Strategic Direction has been abandoned, so this petition has been closed. Thank you again.
Suffolk County Council proposes to ‘divest’ its services and reduce its size, cost and bureaucracy and build community capacity to enable Suffolk citizens to take greater control of their lives with its New Strategic Direction. Suffolk County Council does not have a mandate for such drastic changes to the way services are delivered.
As Suffolk citizens, we’re happy to retain responsibility for the control of our lives and we expect Suffolk County Council to retain control of the services it provides for us, as its members were elected to do. If any member feels that he or she is unable or unwilling to do so, we suggest that he or she should resign.
We call upon Suffolk County Council to scrap the New Strategic Direction, and to supervise the provision of council-run services as cost-effectively as possible.
As Suffolk citizens, we’re happy to retain responsibility for the control of our lives and we expect Suffolk County Council to retain control of the services it provides for us, as its members were elected to do. If any member feels that he or she is unable or unwilling to do so, we suggest that he or she should resign.
We call upon Suffolk County Council to scrap the New Strategic Direction, and to supervise the provision of council-run services as cost-effectively as possible.
This petition is now closed.
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