Norfolk County Council devolution deal talks held with Gove

Kay Mason Billig, leader of Norfolk County Council, confirmed she and County Hall's deputy leader Andrew Jamieson met Mr Gove last week.

Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig (Image: Norfolk County Council)

She said: "We had a meeting with Michael Gove last week so he could reaffirm his commitment to Norfolk."

He said the council continued to push for more money through the deal for infrastructure projects.

Although the previous council leader Andrew Proctor had agreed to the principle of a deal, since she became County Hall leader in May, Mrs Mason Billig has been looking to secure extra elements to be added to the deal currently on the table.

That deal would see the council get an investment fund of £20m a year for 30 years and a directly-elected leader.

The deal would also include control of the £10m budget for adult education, and £7m for brownfield development.

Michael Gove

During a visit to Norfolk last month, Mr Gove had highlighted how important reaching an agreement was for the county, saying that Suffolk – which has not sought any significant amendments to its deal – had “taken the lead”.

He had said: “I do not want Norfolk to be left behind. There are Norfolk issues which we need to iron out."

In the summer, the Conservative-controlled council agreed to submit the results of public consultation on the deal to the government, which will trigger legislation to enable the deal to be put into place.

County Hall in Norwich (Image: Mike Page)

Ultimately, the decision over whether to change the way the council operates - with a switch to a directly-elected leader - rests with the county council.

The deal would falter if that is not agreed and there has been criticism of the arrangement which had been negotiated.

John Fuller, Conservative leader at South Norfolk Council, has slammed the deal as "half-baked", while opposition leaders at County Hall have questioned whether it is good enough to support.