A merger between Babergh and Mid-Suffolk is still not likely, despite it being brought upon the House Of Commons this week.

The matter, which has not been discussed between the districts for more than two years, raised its head in Parliament on Monday when Dr Daniel Poulter Conservative MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich asked the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he (Robert Jendrick) had taken to support the merger of Babergh and Mid-Suffolk district councils.

Simon Clarke, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government) replied: "In 2010 Babergh and Mid-Suffolk Councils engaged with my Department and with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England (LGBCE) regarding a merger of the two districts, but in 2011 the Councils decided not to go ahead following a local referendum.

"There was further engagement with the Councils in 2018 about a possible merger, which again was not progressed, and currently there is no proposal for merger with the Department."

John Ward, Babergh leader, was surprised at Dr Poulter's question as he was unaware that he had a current interest in this matter.

"As expected, it didn't elicit anything new in the reply from Simon Clarke: he stated, which is true, that no proposal has been sent to the MHCLG," said Cllr Ward.

"Merger is not something that Babergh and Mid Suffolk are actively pursuing at the moment, but of course neither has it been ruled out for all time.

"Since the last major country-wide local government reorganisation of 1974, further changes have taken place in many counties and districts over the years and, indeed, we saw two new councils formed in Suffolk last May.

"These changes are driven by the desire and need to respond to financial challenges and maintain service delivery.

"I do think it is quite possible that there could be some significant reorganisation as a result of the potentially catastrophic impact of the Covid-19 crisis on councils' finances. At the same time there is renewed interest in regional devolution deals that combine funding with increased powers.

"Over the past nine years Babergh and Mid Suffolk have implemented a very successful partnership and we are now completely integrated with one team of staff in a single HQ building, working together to make considerable savings and provide an enhanced service to our residents."