Decision details

As this decision was deemed urgent and could not be deferred, under standing order 12.15, Councillor Long, the Chair of the Corporate Performance Panel had agreed that this decision could not be called in.

RECOMMENDED:  1)       That the content of the Interim Plan for Local Government Re-organisation in Norfolk report (Appendix B to the report) be noted, alongside the report’s conclusion that the three unitary model option scored best overall against the government criteria and is therefore the preferred option for Norfolk.

2)             That the three unitary model for LGR be endorsed as this Council’s preferred option for submission to MHCLG.

3)             That delegated authority be granted to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader to finalise and submit the Interim Plan to MHCLG on 21^st March 2025 based on the endorsement of recommendation 2 above.

4)             That following the submission of the Interim Plan and subject to the feedback received from MHCLG, the council, continue to work with the Norfolk Districts to conduct resident and stakeholder engagement on the LGR proposals for Norfolk to inform the full business case.

5)             To delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, for the development of the full business case for LGR in Norfolk to be returned to full Council for approval prior to submission.

Reason for Decision

To respond to the Governments request that the council work with other local authorities in Norfolk to submit proposals for Local Government Reform in Norfolk by 21 March 2025.