Devolution in Norfolk and Suffolk

Norfolk and Suffolk are now in the final phase of establishing of a Mayoral Combined Authority. Norfolk County Council and all the other participating authorities will be asked to consent to a draft Order creating the Combined Authority in November. If consent is obtained, the Order (a statutory instrument) will be laid before parliament for debate and approval on 24 November 2016. If the Order is made, the Mayoral Combined Authority will come into existence on 1 March 2017, with the first mayoral election on 4 May 2017. Victoria McNeill, nplaw’s practice director, has had the lead on governance since the start of negotiations. She will be speaking at the LLG Annual Governance Conference in London on 4th and 5th November 2016 on the many governance challenges involved in local government devolution.