Devolution: Suffolk
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with which members of (a) Suffolk County Council and (b) district councils in Suffolk she has discussed Suffolk's devolution deal.
Answered by Jim McMahon
This Government has recently announced that it will not be proceeding with the existing devolution deal with Suffolk County Council. Instead, Government will continue discussions Suffolk to deliver a more ambitious agreement as we lay the foundations for the English Devolution Bill. The Local Government Minister met with the Leader of Suffolk County Council recently to discuss next steps.
This Government strongly believes that the benefits of devolution are best achieved through the establishment of combined institutions with a directly elected leader. In this context mayors should have a unique role in an institution which allows them to focus fully on their devolved strategic responsibilities, working hand in glove with council leaders who will vitally also focus on the delivery of the essential services for which they are responsible.
Conflating these two responsibilities into the same individual and institution, as is the case under the mayoral Single Local Authority model of devolution, would risk the optimal delivery of both and is not in line with the direction of travel we are setting out ahead of the English Devolution Bill.
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