Norfolk devolution deal decision process criticised

The policy, which will bring major changes to the way the council is run, is expected to be ratified next week at a meeting of Norfolk County Council's Conservative cabinet.

Opposition politicians argue they are being excluded from the process.

Under the deal, Norfolk will receive £600m funding over the next 30 years, while powers will be transferred from Whitehall to a directly-elected leader of Norfolk County Council.

The council was offered the deal last month after months of negotiations with central government.

Next week will see a crucial stage in the ratification process, with two major meetings at County Hall.

First, the full council - of all 84 councillors - will meet at 10am next Tuesday (January 17) to discuss the in-principle deal.

But the council will not be able to make a decision, just to note the deal, with the decision to ratify it in the hands of the authority's Conservative cabinet, which will meet following the full council meeting.

Norfolk County Council leader Andrew Proctor (Image: Norfolk County Council)

County council leader Andrew Proctor said: "The aim is for decisions and funding previously controlled in Westminster to be agreed in Norfolk, for Norfolk.

"Striking a deal will help us to boost our economy through more jobs, training, housing and development, to improve our transport network and to support our environment.

"Getting to this point shows the government sees Norfolk as a can-do county.

"I’m confident that we can make a success of this and that more powers and funding would follow."

Steve Morphew, leader of the opposition Labour group at Norfolk County Council (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

But Steve Morphew, leader of the opposition Labour group said such a decision should not rest with the 10 members of the county council's cabinet.

He said: "It’s a dud deal that is being puffed up to try to make it look good but, in fact, it doesn’t scratch the surface of our current needs let alone provide a sound basis for the future.

"The weakness of the deal is reflected in the way Andrew Proctor is determined to keep full council from making a decision on the substance.

"That decision is going to be taken by Mr Proctor and just nine other councillors on the cabinet he hand picks."

Green group leader Ben Price said: "Taking the devolution process away from the wider council and placing in the hands of 10 people is typical of the way Conservatives want to run this county, with no accountability or dissenting voices.

"This is a bad deal for Norfolk and the environment, and lacks the financial clout to make significant improvements to the lives of its citizens."

If cabinet decides to proceed, a six-week public consultation would be launched on February 6.

If the deal is agreed, the first election for a directly-elected council leader would be in May 2024.

The deal has prompted criticism, including from John Fuller, Conservative leader of South Norfolk Council, and from Mid Norfolk Tory MP George Freeman.

What does the deal mean?

The council says the deal would mean that, from 2024 onwards, County Hall could:

• Target funding and resources to Norfolk’s own priorities, with a new investment fund of £20m per year for 30 years;
• Unlock housing and employment sites with an initial injection of £12.9m and new powers to drive regeneration, housing and development priorities;
• Invest in skills, with devolution of the adult education budget;
• Invest in local transport planning and consolidate transport budgets to direct funding to local needs;
• Strengthen the local business voice through the future integration of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership;
• Enable the council's voice to be better heard by government.