With councillors debating conflicting views about the best future local government structure for Suffolk, one item has raised the most public questioning and confusion.
Many Suffolk councillors have been contacted by confused residents who have received a pink campaign leaflet through their letterboxes in the last few days. Featuring Alice, the white rabbit and the Mad Hatter, the leaflet attacks the proposal for three unitary councils which is being developed by Suffolk’s districts and borough working together. However, it is not clear who is behind this leaflet – and the corresponding campaign on social media.
Andy Mellen, Green Party leader of Mid Suffolk District Council, commented:
“We have to assume that it is Suffolk County Council (SCC) behind this campaign – but it’s certainly confusing for residents as the leaflet does not make that clear. We know that SCC have their own proposal for a single unitary for the whole of Suffolk, and whilst I don’t agree with that, I respect their right to develop their proposal and submit it to the government. What I find hard to understand, and I think residents will agree, if it is the cash-strapped county council spending many thousands of pounds of taxpayers money on an aggressive campaign criticising our three-unitary council proposal.” (see below for details of spending so far)
“Our proposal for three distinct unitary councils, working together in partnership where appropriate, will give efficiencies of scale, deliver services well, and still retain the local accountability and relatability that residents want.”
Mid Suffolk District Council last night debated and agreed to develop a proposal for three unitary councils for Suffolk, working alongside the other district and borough councils, who have all now voted the same way.
Closing the debate, Councillor Mellen concluded:
“I’m not living in Wonderland, I’m living in confident hope of the right outcome for the people of Suffolk.”
Speaking afterwards, Councillor Andrew Stringer, who seconded the motion said:
“Clearly Suffolk County Council have crossed a line. The recent ‘we are listening’ events, are in reality ‘we are campaigning’ events. These are being hosted in a special new gazebo emblazed with their ‘One Suffolk Council’ artwork in towns across Suffolk. When the public are being actively lobbied using public money it is only fair that we expose what is really happening, and the campaign costs. This issue is incredibly important, and it appears the public are being gaslit !”
Greens also note that some of the social media adverts state ‘paid for by Capsule’ although we know Suffolk County Council has recently paid £49,000 to that company.
June Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Payments
SCC232683 05/06/2025 CAPSULE MARKETING £40000 One Suffolk LGR project campaign
SCC232785 06/06/2025 WESTCO TRADING LTD £23000 LGR one Suffolk Campaign – to be paid in stages
SCC233434 16/06/2025 CAPSULE MARKETING £9000 One Suffolk Campaign ads June, July, August and September 2025 * June Invoice (for June ad spend): £1,150 * June Invoice (for July ad spend): £2,450 * July Invoice (for August ad spend): £2,450 * August Invoice (for September ad spend):
July payments have not yet been published. We are estimating printing and delivery of the pink leaflet may be between £30,000 and £50,000.