Agenda item

Click here to view the recording of this item on YouTube

The following Notice of Motion  was agreed at full council on 30 January 2025.

“The 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 February to debate devolution and local government reorganisation.”

A report provided members with background, context and up to date information on Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in Norfolk and Suffolk, including actions and steps taken to date in response to the Government’s English Devolution White Paper, published in December 2024.

The Government had announced on 5^th February 2025 that Norfolk and Suffolk were part of the Devolution Priority Programme and as such, county council elections due in May 2025 had been postponed for one year. The Government had set  a challenging date for initial proposals for LGR of 21^st March 2025, with full business plans to be submitted by 26 September 2025.

Under the Council Procedure Rules, Councillor Beales requested Council to grant him an extension to his ability to speak for more than 5 minutes.  This was agreed. 

Councillor Beales reminded members that this meeting was a debate on Local Government Review and Devolution, rather than a question and answer session. However he confirmed that such a session would be set up in the next week and  again prior to the Council meeting on 19 March.

Councillor Beales, in proposing the recommendations set out in the report, made reference to the importance of engaging fully and constructively in the process to ensure that good relations with colleague authorities were maintained in the working up of proposals for Norfolk.  He noted that Norfolk County would be looking to propose a single unitary, the district councils were working together to come up with a consensus of opinion, although Norwich City Council were also working up a single Norwich city proposal.  He drew attention to the importance of presenting a united front with proposals put to the Minister to make it easy for them to make a decision which would ensure the co-operation of all parties where possible.

Councillor Morley seconded the proposal and reserved the right to speak.

Council debated the issue and the following views were put forward:

·         The Labour Group members generally supported the issue of LGR and Devolution.

·         The not broken so don’t fix it term was used, and the potential loss of a lot of experienced councillors was drawn attention to.

·         Devolution was in the Labour manifesto, and ward members spent time in their wards regardless of size.

·         The progressive Group did not support LGR and large unitary councils or an elected Mayor.

·         The Conservative Group agreed with the principle of Devolution, drew attention to the fact that the County Council delivered services into people’s homes and hoped for the best delivery model for the public of Norfolk, although the data and any offer on the table was unknown at this stage.

·         Great Yarmouth was not pursuing a town council for its town.

·         The Lib Dem Group felt that accountability should be strengthened not weakened, and would support it if there were meaningful benefits for the people of west Norfolk.

·         Independent Members made the following comments:

·         Representation of the population would be more sparse, where would any additional money coming from.

·         The Borough was well run at the moment, a high level of scrutiny would be required and members kept informed and the public needed to be kept informed.

·         A very large unitary would be far too remote for representation.

·         The impact on dedicated officers whose jobs were under threat was drawn attention to, and well run councils saved money.

·         If it was a single unitary the distance from the base in Norwich would be too great and parish liaison would be diminished as there would be too large an area to cover.

·         A single unitary authority would be too large, it should be several unitaries.  Concern that if the recommendations weren’t supported then the council would be left out on a limb in the negotiations. 

·         A King’s Lynn Town Council was essential with LGR changes, and retention of the civic element for King’s Lynn.

·         If the councils don’t work together to come up with a proposal the Government will impose what it wants to see.  There was no choice in this round of LGR.

·         The list of potential Mayoral powers was concerning.

·         The council needed to trust the Leader in the negotiations.

·         Wards would be much larger.

·         The situation was not party political

·         The new roles would come with remuneration

·         King’s Lynn is the gateway to the east and was a growth area so had a strong case.

Each of the recommendations was put to the vote separately, and on the majority of votes it was:

RESOLVED  1)         The Council acknowledges that Norfolk is on the accelerated programme for Devolution, which consequently means there will be Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) for all Norfolk Authorities, including this Borough Council.

2)            This Council will engage with the other Norfolk Districts and the County Council on the preferred model of LGR which will provide the best outcome for West Norfolk Residents

3)            An outline business case for the final preferred model will be brought to Full Council for approval prior to submission to Government in late March 2025.

4)            That the creation of a King’s Lynn Town Council is explored by officers with a view to this being part of the preferred model of LGR should that be appropriate.

Reason for Decision

To enable the Leader and Chief Executive  to proceed with discussions on Devolution and the options for LGR, ensuring that any proposal for Local Government Reorganisation is representative of the unique characteristics of West Norfolk and ensures the best outcomes for its residents and businesses.