Issue - meetings

Report No: COU/SE/16/019

The report contains an attachment “Contents of draft Norfolk and Suffolk Combined Authority Order”. This is not the Statutory Instrument but explains the content of the Statutory Instrument.

The actual Statutory Instrument which will be laid before Parliament by the Secretary of State, which creates the Combined Authority and sets out the legal functions, in legal terms, that will be devolved is still being finalised by Government lawyers.  It is anticipated that this will be available to circulate to Members on Tuesday 15 November 2016.

(Councillors Tony Brown, John Burns, Terry Clements, Beccy Hopfensperger, David Nettleton and Sarah Stamp declared local non-pecuniary interests as Members of Suffolk County Council and remained in the meeting for the consideration of this item.)

Council considered Report No: COU/SE/16/019, which presented the next steps required to establish a Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk. 

The Mayor advised Members that tabled before them were revised recommendations for consideration, the reasons for which would be explained by the Leader of the Council. 

The Leader explained that as a result of the decision by King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council not to consent to being included in a draft Order to be laid before Parliament to create a Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk to implement the Norfolk and Suffolk Devolution Deal, it was strongly anticipated that the Government would take the Norfolk and Suffolk Devolution Deal ‘off the table’.  Consideration of the proposals set out in Report No: COU/SE/16/019 and its appendices, therefore no longer applied.

Accordingly, the tabled revised recommendations sought authorisation for the Leader and Chief Executive to seek a meeting with the Secretary of State to establish the Government’s intentions with regard to devolution and to seek an alternative devolution deal as soon as possible.

The Leader expressed his regret and disappointment that the deal that had been negotiated was now not going to happen, particularly as the challenges that faced local authorities still existed, as did the array of opportunities that could be delivered in West Suffolk. He believed that devolution and future deals were still in the Council’s strong interests and urged Members to support the set of revised recommendations, as tabled. 

During their debate and questions on the revised recommendations, Members formally acknowledged the work previously undertaken by the Leader and officers in negotiating the Norfolk and Suffolk Devolution Agreement.  However, it was recognised that subject to approval of the revised recommendations and the position of Central Government and the Secretary of State, a better deal for Suffolk (and West Suffolk in particular) could now potentially be achieved in any future negotiations.

On the motion of Councillor John Griffiths, seconded by Councillor Alaric Pugh, and duly carried it was,

RESOLVED:

That the Council agrees:

(1)     to reiterate the commitment, given at its June meeting, to Devolution as a means of delivering accelerated growth in the local and national economy and helping local people and places fulfil their potential;

(2)     to authorise the Leader and Chief Executive to:

(a)     seek an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State to discuss the Government’s intentions around devolution; and

(b)     work with the Government and local partners to agree an alternative devolution deal as soon as possible.

(3)     For further reports to be presented to the Authority, as appropriate, as the Devolution process progresses.