A consultation on plans for a new town council in Lynn could be launched as soon as next month.

West Norfolk Council is currently exploring the possibility of a new authority for the town ahead of local government reorganisation (LGR), which will see existing district and county councils abolished.

Lynn does not currently have its own council, unlike other towns such as Hunstanton, Downham, Swaffham and Fakenham.

Last week, the borough council’s electoral arrangements committee agreed to undertake a Community Governance Review in a bid to find out if residents are on board with the plans.

The proposals are being brought because, when LGR goes ahead, there will be no authority in Lynn below the level of a unitary authority covering a large area.

This has led to concerns that there could be a lack of focus on the town.

A report from the electoral arrangements committee said: “This will affect democratic engagement and representation and may influence the way local services are provided, and not permit for a local, civic, mayoral presence and the associated ceremonial duties.”

The committee agreed to move forward with the recommendation, and the full council will make a decision at its meeting on January 29.

An original public consultation would then run from February to March, with draft plans subsequently drawn up before a second consultation starting in May.

If there is appetite for a town council in Lynn, final recommendations would be made later this year and it could be created by May 2027.

The borough council committee added: “Local parish councils play an important role in terms of community empowerment at a local level and we want to ensure that local governance in the area of the existing borough council continues to be robust, representative and enabled to meet the challenges that lie before it.

“Parish councils have a key role to play in representing the views and promoting the needs of the borough’s local communities and neighbourhoods and every opportunity should be afforded to them to express such views to the new unitary authority prior to any decisions taken which might affect local circumstances.”

The Lynn News reported as early as January last year that plans for a council for the town were in the works.