Norfolk County Council committee to consider latest devolution deal reports next week

Preparations for a £600million-plus devolution deal to bring more powers and funding to Norfolk are to be considered by councillors next week.

Norfolk County Council’s infrastructure and development select committee will consider three reports which pave the way for major investment in infrastructure, skills, housing and transport.

The authority agreed to proceed with the devolution deal, which will see a new mayor-style leader elected by members of the public, in December of last year.

It would see a transfer of power from the Government to County Hall, which theoretically should allow it to take control of more decisions.

Cllr Kay Mason Billig, the leader of the county council, said: “Devolution will bring major benefits to Norfolk and will open the door to even more.

“We have been working hard to ensure all the groundwork is there, so that we can take this forward, if councillors agree.”

Government funding will start transferring to Norfolk this summer if councillors vote in July to stage the first election for a leader in May 2025.

On Wednesday next week (May 15), the council’s select committee will consider three reports which pave the way for devolution:

- A report to enable transfer of the Government’s £12.8million per year adult skills budget to Norfolk.

- A report on how the county and district/borough councils have worked on a pipeline of brownfield site regeneration projects, to develop up to 580 homes using £7million of devolution funding.

- A report on how the £20million investment fund will be administered, with the involvement of district/borough councils and other partners in advising the directly elected leader and cabinet on funding decisions.

Cllr Vic Thomson, chair of the infrastructure and development select committee, said: “My committee is keen to explore the arrangements being put in place, so that we can make a success of devolution, if councillors give the go ahead in July.”