Scrap call for Norfolk devolution deal with 'mayor'

County council members will be urged to ditch the deal, which County Hall leaders and officers have negotiated with government over for months, when the full council meets on Tuesday (March 28).

As well as a £20m investment fund for 30 years, the county deal includes a directly-elected leader for the council.

Alexandra Kemp wants the Norfolk county deal to be ditched

And independent county councillor Alexandra Kemp has tabled a motion that the authority rejects the government's imposition of "a top-down elected bureaucrat in the place of the leader of the council".

READ MORE: Norfolk devolution deal prompts row between Conservatives

Ms Kemp, who hopes fellow councillors will back her call, said: "The Conservatives often say the members run this council.

"But members will not run the council any more, if the administration does not discontinue the County Deal.

"Because government would transfer all of this council’s executive powers to one person, who would not be a councillor.

READ MORE: Liz Truss intervenes over Norfolk's £600m devolution deal

"How undemocratic this would be. It would be a government power grab. The members would lose control of their own council.

Ms Kemp, who represents Clenchwarton and King's Lynn South, added: "This is far too much power for one person and would be very bad news for local democracy in the Norfolk districts."

READ MORE: Norfolk devolution deal revealed and county set for 'mayor'

County Hall in Norwich (Image: Mike Page)

The county deal offered to Norfolk County Council includes a £20m a year investment fund for 30 years.

Powers would be devolved from Whitehall to the county council, with the authority getting control of the £10m budget for adult education, £7m for brownfield development, plus £5.9m for housing, regeneration and development.

Leaders at County Hall have said the deal Norfolk will bring more jobs, better housing, improved transport and better skills - and will open the door to further deals.