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Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Norfolk has been accepted onto the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme (DPP). We have received the formal letter from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) inviting local Leaders to work collaboratively and proactively to develop proposals for local government reorganisation in Norfolk. This letter also provides more clarity on the criteria for unitary proposals.

As a result of being accepted onto the DPP, the Government will work with the council towards an election for the Mayor of the Strategic Authority in May 2026. To manage this, local County Council elections planned for May 2025 will be postponed until May 2026.

Currently, services in Norfolk are split between the county council and seven borough, city and district councils. In a process known as Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), the Government also wants to replace all Norfolk eight with a reduced number of ‘unitary councils’, which would deliver all council services, and has asked the existing authorities to make proposals for what future services could look like.

Council Leaders and Officers from across the district councils in Norfolk have been working on Local Government Reorganisation proposals for Norfolk and this continues at pace to achieve the requirements and timeframe outlined in the letter from the MHCLG and summarised below.

All District and County Councils that have been accepted onto the DPP have been asked to submit LGR proposals by 21 March 2025, with full proposals by 26 September 2025.

Future Norfolk survey (open) – share your priorities

Breckland Council, Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Broadland District Council, Great Yarmouth Borough Council, North Norfolk District Council, and Norwich City Council are working together and agree that having three unitary councils would best serve the people of Norfolk (as opposed to having one or two).

Over the summer, we are speaking with as many people as possible across Norfolk – residents, businesses, community groups and others – to champion our shared vision and invite everyone to complete our Future Norfolk survey to share their priorities and help shape a final submission to the Government this autumn.

Our joint proposal to have three unitary councils for Norfolk is based on the findings of an independent report – The Strength of Three – and our collective knowledge of our communities. The strength of having three unitary councils is they are about you, putting local people, place and progress right at the heart of how council services are run.

  • People: Local decisions by local leaders who understand your community. Three councils will strengthen local democracy, increase transparency, and make decision-making close to home
  • Place: Services shaped by the strengths and needs of each area. Three councils will celebrate the unique identity, strengths, challenges, and heritage of different areas
  • Progress: A future-ready Norfolk that works for everyone. Three councils will build a resilient, sustainable future for Norfolk that can adapt to changing needs.

You can find out more about the survey and take part until 1 August 2025 at www.futurenorfolk.com.

Devolution consultation (closed)

The Government held a public consultation on proposed devolution in Norfolk and Suffolk, specifically on the proposal to form a Strategic Authority headed by a mayor. This consultation closed on 13 April.

For more information, please visit the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's Norfolk and Suffolk Devolution Consultation page.

This consultation was specifically about forming a Mayoral Strategic Authority to bring about devolution. Local Government Reorganisation for Norfolk and Suffolk authorities will be subject to a separate engagement process later in the year, once councils have made a submission to Government on how reorganisation could look.

Criteria for unitary local government

  • A proposal should seek to achieve better outcomes and local service delivery for the whole area
  • Unitary local government must be the right size to achieve efficiencies, improve capacity and withstand financial challenges
  • Unitary structures must prioritise the delivery of high quality and sustainable public services to residents
  • Proposals should show how councils in the area have sought to work together in coming to a view that meets local needs and is informed by local views
  • New unitary structures must support devolution arrangements
  • New unitary structures should enable stronger community engagement and deliver genuine opportunity for neighbourhood empowerment

When developing proposals for unitary local government, the following matters should be considered:

  • Boundary changes
    • Existing district areas should be considered as building blocks
    • If any boundary changes proposed there needs to be strong public services and financial sustainability related justification
  • Engagement and consultation on reorganisation
    • Local Leaders to work collaboratively and proactively
    • Engage Members of Parliament
    • Engage local partners, stakeholders, residents, workforce & their representatives and businesses
    • Engage with the Integrated Care Board, Police and Crime Commissioner, Fire & Rescue, Local Higher Education & Further Education providers, National Parks, voluntary & third sector organisations.

The Government has fully committed to supporting councils through this stage and has acknowledged the need for us to continue to deliver our business-as-usual, alongside the work outlined above.

Timelines and next steps - summary

  • Interim plans that set out our progress towards developing final proposals will need to be submitted to Government on or before 21 March 2025.
  • Postpone local elections from May 2025 to May 2026
  • Mayoral elections for Strategic Authority May 2026
  • Devolution and reorganisation will be delivered to the most ambitious timeline possible - Full proposal by 26 September 2025.
  • Elections to new shadow unitary authorities* as soon as possible

*Shadow unitary authorities will be temporarily formed until the new unitary authority is formally established.

Special Council meeting

A Special Council meeting was held on 13 February to debate devolution and local government reorganisation.

The agenda and reports pack for this meeting is available to view.

The meeting is also available to watch on the Council's YouTube channel.

Further information

Further information about devolution and local government reorganisation in Norfolk can be found in the links below:

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