Councillors consider new powers and funding to boost jobs and growth

New powers and funding to boost jobs, transport and growth could be coming to Norfolk and Suffolk, if councillors vote in favour on 16 October.

Under the Government's devolution priority programme, Norfolk and Suffolk have been offered:

• the transfer of powers and funding from Whitehall, to enable decisions on jobs, skills, transport and housing to be taken in Norfolk and Suffolk
• a multi-million pound investment fund for 30 years, to spend on local priorities

Norfolk County Council leader Councillor Kay Mason Billig said: "The devolution proposals and annual investment fund give us a major opportunity to improve lives in Norfolk and Suffolk, by boosting our economy, jobs, transport and housing.

"It would enable us to focus on local needs - whether it's for the types of training required to attract quality jobs, the sites we need to develop for industry and housing and the transport links we need to get the two counties moving.

"Councillors will discuss the issues at a special meeting, before the cabinet meeting takes its decision."

If Norfolk County Council and Suffolk County Council agree to proceed, the new powers and funding would be overseen by a mayor, elected by voters in May 2026, to lead a new combined authority. The combined authority would be made up of the mayor, plus councillors from Norfolk and Suffolk.

Suffolk County Council's cabinet is due to take its decision on 2 October, followed by Norfolk County Council's cabinet on 16 October. Devolution can only proceed with the support of both councils.

Under the proposals, the mayor and the combined authority would take responsibility for a range of functions and funding, including:

• Local transport
• Skills and jobs
• Housing development
• Economic growth and regeneration
• Environment and climate change
• From 2027 - taking on police and crime commissioner and fire and rescue authority functions

Devolution benefits include:

• Having a mayor who is directly elected by the public, enabling the voice of Norfolk and Suffolk to be heard by the Government - the mayor would be a member of the Committee of the Nations and Regions.
• Targeting funding and resources to local priorities.
• Unlocking housing and employment sites.
• Investing in the skills we need and attracting and retaining key businesses.
• Opening the door to further powers and funding in future.

You can read the report which will be scrutinised by the council's strategic and corporate select committee at 10am on 10 October.

Norfolk's full council will then discuss the proposals at 10am on 16 October, before the cabinet decides whether to proceed, at 3pm on the same day.

You can watch the council and cabinet meetings, live or afterwards.