Groundwork laid for £600 million-plus boost for Norfolk

Preparations for a £600 million-plus devolution deal, to bring more powers and funding to Norfolk, are to be considered by councillors.

Norfolk County Council's infrastructure and development select committee will consider three reports that pave the way for major investment in infrastructure, skills, housing and transport.

County council leader Councillor Kay Mason Billig said: "Devolution will bring major benefits to Norfolk and will open the door to even more. We have been working hard to ensure all the groundwork is there, so that we can take this forward, subject to the approval of councillors."

Councillor Vic Thomson, chair of the infrastructure and development select committee, said: "My committee is keen to explore the arrangements being put in place, so that we can make a success of devolution, if councillors give the go ahead in July."

In December last year, county councillors backed a devolution deal with the Government, subject to a vote in July this year on introducing a leader, elected by the public.

Devolution will enable the council to take more decisions in Norfolk, for Norfolk and secure more than £600 million over 30 years. It will enable investment in areas such as transport, skills and job opportunities, housing and regeneration, tailored to the needs of local people.

The select committee will consider three reports that pave the way for devolution, subject to the vote in July:
• A report to enable transfer of the Government's £12.8 million per year adult skills budget to Norfolk.
• A report on how the county and district councils have worked on a pipeline of brownfield site regeneration projects, to develop up to 580 homes using £7 million of devolution funding.
• A report on how the £20 million investment fund will be administered, with the involvement of district councils and other partners in advising the directly elected leader and cabinet on funding decisions.

The infrastructure and development select committee will consider the reports when it meets at 10am on Wednesday, May 15th. You can read the reports and view the meeting, live or afterwards, at https://norfolkcc.cmis.uk.com/norfolkcc/CalendarofMeetings/tabid/128/ctl/ViewMeetingPublic/mid/496/Meeting/2146/Committee/171/SelectedTab/Documents/Default.aspx.

You can find out more about devolution at www.norfolk.gov.uk/norfolkcountydeal.