Agenda item

To consider the following Notice of Motion ( 1/25 ), submitted by Councillor A Beales:

“This Council is supportive of Norfolk County Council’s ambition to fast track devolution in Norfolk by joining with Suffolk County Council in making a request to Government to join the Devolution Priority Programme and will engage constructively in any forthcoming programme of devolution and local government reorganisation. However, this Council strongly opposes postponement of County Council elections due in May 2025 as people should not be denied their right to vote, especially as there is unanimous support for devolution from the leaders of all Norfolk and Suffolk local authorities”.

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The following Notice of Motion ( 1/25 ) had been submitted by Councillor A Beales:

“This Council is supportive of Norfolk County Council’s ambition to fast track devolution in Norfolk by joining with Suffolk County Council in making a request to Government to join the Devolution Priority Programme and will engage constructively in any forthcoming programme of devolution and local government reorganisation. However, this Council strongly opposes postponement of County Council elections due in May 2025 as people should not be denied their right to vote, especially as there is unanimous support for devolution from the leaders of all Norfolk and Suffolk local authorities”.

Councillor Beales sought Council’s permission to amend his Motion as follows:

“This Council strongly opposes postponement of County Council elections due in May 2025 as people should not be denied their right to vote.

This Council agrees to hold an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on 13^th February to debate devolution and local government reorganisation.”

This was seconded by Councillor Ring.  Council agreed to the amendment.

Council debated the Motion as amended with points raised on:

·         the democratic mandate of holding elections and the need for the Council to debate local government review and devolution.

·         cost of the elections which could be spent on services

·         Inevitability of local government review

·         Potential of near double term of office.

·         Not having the detail of the proposals at this stage.

·         Costs not being a reason not to hold the elections.

·         Cancelling or delaying elections should only be done in exceptional circumstances.

·         Delaying elections was in the self interest of the County Council.

·         The Motion brought to ensure members could have their say and the Leader had a mandate going forward in discussions.

With the required number of supporters a recorded vote on the Motion was requested.

RESOLVED:              That the Notice of Motion as amended above be approved.