Coastal Partnership East officially dissolves as councils pursue independent paths

The Coastal Partnership East (CPE) has announced its official dissolution following a decision made earlier this year for the involved authorities to pursue independent paths. The partnership had comprised North Norfolk District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, and East Suffolk Council, who had collaboratively managed coastal threats for nearly a decade.

The initiative, launched in 2016, aimed to combine resources and expertise to effectively address the challenges posed by climate change and coastal erosion along the eastern coastline. However, in January 2023, the councils opted to discontinue their collective efforts, believing that focusing on their individual strategies would enhance their ability to tackle the rapidly evolving issues faced by their communities.

This recent development occurs against a backdrop of significant governmental reorganisation expected to affect local governance in Norfolk and Suffolk. The councils are set to transition from the current district and county council system to the establishment of one or more unitary authorities. Additionally, there is the potential for a directly elected mayor to be introduced as part of a devolution agreement aimed at decentralising power from the central government.

The dissolution of the CPE highlights differing opinions on resource utilisation within the partnership, along with a growing desire among the councils to concentrate on local matters. Despite the closure of the group, it is not anticipated that this will impede the councils' ability to secure funding for coastal management projects from the Environment Agency and other sources. Each council is currently grappling with numerous coastal challenges, such as cliff slips and the urgent need for repairs to sea defences.

Visual evidence of the ongoing issues can be seen in recent drone footage revealing the extent of a cliff slide at Overstrand, alongside notable infrastructure changes, such as the demolition of homes along the Marrams in Hemsby earlier this year. As these three councils navigate the complexities of coastal management and impending structural changes, the future of collaboration and resource allocation in their efforts remains an important consideration.

Source: Noah Wire Services