Confirmation from the communities secretary that he is minded to approve the creation of a new ‘super district council' for east Suffolk is a huge landmark for our two councils and a historic first for local government as a whole. But this is by no means a sudden or panic move. It is just the latest step on a decade-long, meticulously planned journey to meet the challenges presented to us by a hugely pressurised financial and service-delivery environment.

Getting to this point has required an enormous amount of hard work, dedication and commitment from a wide range of people. Bravery may not quite be the word… but a willingness to push on with something, despite resistance, because you know it is in the best interest of local communities, has been critical to getting the job done. The vision of our council leaders – Ray Herring at Suffolk Coastal; Mark Bee and the late Colin Law at Waveney has been clear and consistent throughout. This is no marriage of convenience – but the aligning of two Suffolk districts with similar, positive views about the future of local government and the prospects for this part of the country.