A senior Government minister pledged that new devolved powers would work more effectively this time in Suffolk as he signed a deal to hand the county greater autonomy and control of a £480m investment fund.
Lee Rowley, Under-Secretary of State for Local Government and Building Safety, said the Government would be ‘working collaboratively’ with local leaders as he handed councils greater control over spending during a signing session at agricultural firm CLAAS at Saxham Business Park.
Previous attempts to hand the region more authority, such as the creation of the East of England Regional Assembly, have been axed, but Mr Rowley said this time the Government would be working with the existing two-tier system, rather than setting up new institutions.
The newly-devolved powers, which have also been granted to Cornwall, York, North Yorkshire and the East Midlands, allow for the creation of directly elected Mayors, but this idea was rejected by Suffolk County Council during deal negotiations.
He added there would be ‘different approaches for different areas,’ while his Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities was aiming to be flexible and listen to local views.
“Ultimately, it is about giving local areas more power over the things they can do to change peoples’ lives long-term.
“What the Government is trying to do today is to say that we trust local leaders to make these decisions,” Mr Rowley added.
The county council’s leader Matthew Hicks, who co-signed the deal with Mr Rowley on Thursday, said: “I think this is a huge opportunity for Suffolk by giving the county much more power to make decisions about what is best for Suffolk.”
As well as the £480m funding, the devolution deal also provides £5.8m to regenerate brownfield land for housing and control of the Adult Education budget to shape provision to the needs of residents and the local economy.
A further £3m is being provided to fund more energy efficient homes, while there will also be support for improved transport infrastructure.
Mr Hicks cited examples of where this would make a difference, such as by supporting Adastral Park at Martlesham, home of telecoms firm BT, by training potential recruits in the skills needed.
“Previous devolution deals were for Norfolk and Suffolk. They were based on different things, but this is very much about local government in Suffolk.
“We are very clear, we do not need a Mayor. We want to work with the existing two-tier system and the county council is working with our partners and the existing boroughs,” he said.
Following the signing session, Mr Hicks addressed gathered representatives of other local authorities, including district councils, hailing the deal as a ‘milestone’ achievement.
He said: “It is with great pleasure and a lot of pride that I stand here to sign a devolution deal for Suffolk. This actually means a great deal for our county.”
The deal was the ‘first step towards a greater future for the county,’ he said, adding: “It will enable the county to drive growth and plan for the long-term as we look to level up and unlock our potential.”
During his speech, Mr Rowley said the CLAAS site was an example of the ‘brilliance and innovation’ that the devolution deal sought to unlock in Suffolk, a county that was home to agricultural and global businesses.
“It is great to be here on this landmark day for the region. I can’t think of a better place to launch the devolution deal than here in Bury St Edmunds,” he said.
Jack Abbott, Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Ipswich, criticised the deal for ‘short-changing’ the county, saying the funding could not make up for the money the Government had cut from its funding for local authorities.
He said: “It is like someone takes £20 off you, returns a quid and expects to be thanked.”
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