County councillors vote to make bid for devolution

A council has voted to ask the government to postpone the local elections in May and fast track the county for devolution.

A government Devolution White Paper, published in December, outlined plans to scrap two-tier councils and replace them with strategic authorities - and an overseeing mayor.

In Suffolk, this could mean two large councils providing all services and a mayor for Suffolk and Norfolk. All six of Suffolk's councils would disappear.

The Conservative leader of the authority, Matthew Hicks, said the devolution programme being offered by the Labour government was not a "pick and mix".

Protesters gathered before a full council meeting on Thursday, demanding that the elections in May go ahead.

At a packed extraordinary Full Council meeting, the authority voted by a majority to apply to be part of the government's Devolution Priority Programme (DPP).

It would support areas to hold elections in May 2026 for a directly elected mayor, cancelling this year's county council elections.

It's not clear if the new authorities - which would cover a population of at least 500,000 - would also be in place by May 2026, or what their boundaries would be.

Protesters gathered outside Endeavour House before the meeting and called for the elections to still go ahead.

Andrew Sterling, 77, a retired musician who lives on the Shotley Peninsula, said he felt compelled to join protesters gathered outside Endeavour House.

"They are taking over local democracy in order to pursue a national agenda by the government," he said.

"The Tories and Labour are as one on this. They're not bothered about local people.

"We won't have a voice."

Mr Sterling's views were reflected in the debate at the meeting by Green Party, Reform and Liberal Democrat councillors.

The leader of the opposition group - The Greens, Liberal Democrats and Independents' Andrew Stringer, said: "It really benefits the Labour Party and the Conservative Party here in Suffolk to not have an election in 2025 because they fear that they might not do very well.

"Why not have the courage of your convictions and go to the electorate and get a mandate?"

Mr Hicks said postposing the elections was a decision that would be taken by the government - not councils.

"If you want this or don't want this, it is irrelevant," he said.

"The government will roll out mayors across the country and we will go through local government reform.

"So it is better to be engaged and part of the process and discussing it with government than just letting it happen to you."

The vote was passed by 43 votes to 15 with no abstentions.

A new mayor for Suffolk and Norfolk would mean funding and powers would be decided locally.

Sarah Adams, leader of the Labour group at Suffolk County Council, said she had "no problem" with the decision as it was a Labour government White Paper, adding that she supported the council being on fast track to devolution.

If Suffolk is not selected for the priority programme, council elections will go ahead as normal.

The government has not said when it will announce which areas have been successful, but senior Labour county councillor Sandy Martin told the meeting he believed a decision would be announced "by the end of January".

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