Nobody should mourn the loss of the Norfolk County Council devolution deal or feel their ambition "crushed" as the council leader extravagantly responded to the news.

Its demise opens a better and far more exciting prospect for Norfolk.

The old deal offered just £20m a year for 30 years - not protected against inflation.

That’s less than the Tory government took away in council spending power every year.

Other parts of the package could have been implemented without a devolution deal.

Window dressing perhaps or because Michael Gove hadn’t put any money in the government budget to cover his side of the bargain?

(Image: Denise Bradley)

The directly elected leader of the county council idea was a gimmick.

That would not have given Norfolk a seat at the top table with mayors and ministers.

Even many Tories loathed the idea. The whole deal was a mirage of invisible money, faux titles and false promises.

The new government is saying it wants council leaders to concentrate on delivering services - who could argue with that.

If that means we get a mayor we elect for wider strategic decisions with less allegiance to the kind of party politics in council chambers, then so be it.

Despite the county council leader trying to catastrophise good news with party political rhetoric, there was never any link between her devolution deal and hospital rebuilds, the dental school, Anglia Square or East Norwich.

Discussions on those are being actively pursued and won’t be affected. They have no need any devolution deal. Trying to link them does her no credit.

Instead the new government wants us to be more ambitious, have a seat at the top table where we belong, and fulfil the huge potential we have for local homes, local jobs and to play our part in national growth and prosperity.

Far from being "crushed" that is a wake-up call for ambition, drive and delivery.

We politicians are often accused of getting in the way of progress. There are big issues around governance, accountability and democracy to resolve.

Like many I speak to in business and on doorsteps I’m fed up with reasons why we can’t and want to hear about the ways we can.

UK and Norfolk PLC are not in great shape especially compared to what we can and should be delivering for our residents.

So maybe we do have to bite on losing our party political ambitions. Maybe we do have to have a mayor.

Maybe that will lead to rationalising the number of councils and how they operate. Maybe there are some unthinkables we may have to learn to live with for the greater good.

As usual those potential barriers could be used to slow the process and as excuses to do nothing.

In the wings is the government's promised English Devolution Bill. The message I get is they want us to come up with solutions for Norfolk that promote the growth mission this government was elected to deliver.

But if we are slow, can’t agree or aren’t ambitious enough, that emerging Act of Parliament will be used to focus our attention and keep us out of the slow lane.

This is no longer just the province of the county council. Probably just as well if the leader is feeling devastated, with crushed ambition and just looking to salvage something.

This is going to be Norfolk devolution not a county council deal. Those with ambition and drive to protect what we cherish, celebrate what we have, and commit to a future of stable prosperity, won’t be mourning today.

I’ll be joining them and rolling my sleeves up. We will be celebrating the opportunity we have to cast aside second rate status, second rate deals and find better leadership so Norfolk can take our place as equals with anywhere in the country. It’s time to get serious.

*Steve Morphew is Labour group leader on Norfolk County Council.