Issue - meetings

To give consideration to the attached report and form a view.

Cabinet to make a decision on the matter at its meeting immediately after Council.

Councillor Long introduced the report on Norfolk and Suffolk Devolution which was being considered by all the Norfolk and Suffolk Authorities who had opted in June to continue to the consultation stage of the Devolution proposal.  He drew attention to the information which had been received, the consultations undertaken and to the insistence of Government that the Combined Authority would have to have an elected Mayor. He acknowledged that for some it was too high a price to pay and that it was not an easy decision to have to take, but no-one could know what the future would bring or if there would be any further offer for Norfolk at a later date if this Deal was rejected.  He reminded Council that his Group would have a free vote on this issue.

In order that the debate could take place he proposed the following recommendations, and at the same time asked for a recorded vote on the decision.  This was supported by the required number of Members.

1          That, on the basis of the earlier Governance Review (Appendix B to the 30^th June Council papers), Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA) and the results of the consultation, the Authority continues to conclude that the establishment of a Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk is the option which most fully permits the effective discharge of the functions that Government is prepared to devolve to this area.

2          That the Council authorises the Chief Executive to consent to the Council being included in an Order that will be laid before Parliament by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to create the Norfolk and Suffolk Combined Authority, such Order to:

a)           establish a Norfolk and Suffolk Combined Authority and specify the high level constitutional arrangements;

b)           confer functions on the Norfolk and Suffolk Combined Authority; and

c)           specify those functions exercisable by the Mayor.

3       In the event that any minor drafting changes are required to reflect legislative requirements and the contents of the Deal Agreement, authority is delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and agreement with the other Chief Executives/Managing Directors of the Constituent Councils across Norfolk and Suffolk to make the necessary changes to the Order.

4       That further reports are presented to the Authority, as appropriate, as the Devolution process progresses.

Councillor Bird spoke against the recommendations stating that the incentives were not good enough value and the timeframes  were unrealistic. He stated that neither he nor his constituents supported the issue of an Elected Mayor, which he considered would end up being a Suffolk representative with a layer of bureaucracy which would be additional cost to the tax payer.  He drew attention to the potential benefit of the Ely North Junction but did not consider that a Suffolk Mayor would see it as priority.

Councillor J Collop concurred with the comments made and confirmed that his Group also had a free vote on the issue.  He commented  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51