Statement about the proposal to postpone the 2025 Norfolk County Council elections

Cllr Beales said:

In common with other council leaders in Norfolk, I am supportive of Norfolk County Council’s ambition to fast-track devolution in Norfolk by joining with Suffolk County Council in making a request to Government to join the Devolution Priority Programme. However, I do not support any request to postpone County Council elections due in May 2025. It was made absolutely clear by the Under-Secretary of State for Housing and Local Government, Baroness Taylor on 7th January that a request to join the Devolution Priority Programme is an entirely separate matter from requesting a delay to elections. Government guidance states that a request to delay elections should unlock devolution in areas where it would not otherwise be possible. Given the support for devolution as formally expressed by all local authorities in Norfolk and Suffolk, any election delay is plainly unnecessary, and worse could prove divisive.

I am also deeply concerned that on 9th January the full Norfolk County Council will be asked to consider a motion that merely notes the possibility of election delay whilst the following Norfolk County Council Cabinet motion endorses an explicit request to Government to delay elections, claiming it is backed by “fellow councillors”.  In my view that clearly implies the request would be made with the support of full Council. And yet, as it stands, full Council will not have been asked to support such a request. This lack of clarity over a fundamental change that could deny people the right to vote for two and possibly three years is regrettable.