Suffolk County Council raised the alarm after a bid by Ipswich BoroughCouncil to change its status. Ipswich is due to submit proposals to theGovernment next month.
But Suffolk says Ipswich's proposals fail to describe how the newauthority will provide a number of services, including early years andchildcare, extended schools, youth offending, special educational needsand children with disabilities.
Patricia O'Brien, Suffolk's portfolio holder for children, schools andyoung people's services, said the proposals only focused on social careand education: "Children and young people's services currently performwell in Suffolk, gaining three stars overall. This is because we have acomplete approach to children's services and a proven track record."
However, a spokesman from Ipswich Borough Council said the claimsstemmed from the county council's desire to hang on to services.
Children would be better off under a unitary authority, he said, aschildren's services would be able to link up with housing, and therewould be greater funding per pupil.
He added children currently get a "raw deal" in the town, pointing outthat it has twice as many children in care and in poverty compared tothe rest of Suffolk, and five of the county's worst-performing highschools.
