Combining The Fornhams

If you read the minutes of either of the two Fornham Parish Council’s meetings, you may have noticed that councillors have had some preliminary discussions about joining the two Fornham Parish Councils together (Fornham All Saints, and Fornham St Martin cum St Genevieve (which is already a combined council)), to create one single Parish Council for the three Fornhams.

This is just a concept, in it’s early stages, but it comes at a time where there is Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation in Suffolk. Devolution is looking to create a Mayoral type authority for Suffolk and Norfolk, who will have more direct access to central government for strategic issues, such as highways and potentially policing. Local Government Reorganisation is seeking to reduce the number of councils in Suffolk by combining county, district and borough councils into either one, two or three streamlined larger authorities.

What these changes mean for Parish Councils is potentially more powers and authority to tackle the local issues that we face, such as roads, pavements, street cleaning etc. Whilst some of the smaller Parish Councils may struggle with the extra responsibilities, the Fornham’s are in a strong position to join forces and create a single Parish Council with more power to act in the best interests of the three villages.

We will still remain three separate villages, but the Parish Councils would be one Parish Council acting for an on behalf of all the villages - much like the Fornham St Martin cum St Genevieve Parish Council currently covers the two villages.

Much like with Local Government Reorganisation, we expect that services and provisions can be streamlined, without changing or affecting village life for any of the three villages.

The Parish Council of Fornham St Martin cum St Genevieve invited the councillors of Fornham All Saints to their meeting on the 4th of September to begin discussions between both councils. This opportunity will be reciprocated at the October Fornham All Saints meeting too.

Residents are always allowed (and actively encouraged) to attend Parish Council meetings and time is always given for public forum where residents can share their thoughts or concerns, or raise questions.

Residents can also contact their respective Parish Clerk, to raise share their views or ask a question.


Fornham All Saints Parish Clerk:  clerk@fornhamallsaintsparish.gov.uk

Fornham St Martin Parish Clerk:  clerk@fsmsg-pc.gov.uk