Norfolk Chamber delivered one of a series of three breakfast events in conjunction with New Anglia LEP to discuss the topic of Devolution and its importance to Norfolk businesses.
Devolution offers Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire an exciting opportunity to have more control over its funding and greater local decision-making over a range of services vital to our long-term growth. The public consultation is underway and we want the Government and local authorities to hear the powerful voice of business and understand your views.
The speakers at the event were the leaders of East Anglia’s devolution bid, including Mark Pendlington, New Anglia LEP Chair and Andy Wood, CEO of Adnams. The audience of business leaders challenged them to justify the case for business. Concerns included the elected mayor, adding another layer of government, and the Government’s motivation for Devolution.
In response, Mark Pendlington said: “This is about bringing local control and local decision-making here and having business around the table, not just influencing decisions but voting on their priorities.”
He insisted that the four authorities (Norwich, Breckland, North Norfolk and Great Yarmouth) which rejected devolution would not be left behind. “It’s not us against them, and we are not going to say that none of the money is going to come to those parts of Norfolk,” he added.
Andy Wood, who chaired the negotiations with Government, advised that East Anglia should follow the lead of other devolved regions. “This is happening. I don’t think we can afford to be left behind, even if we don’t like some bits of it,” he said.
Also speaking at the event was Chamber President, Jonathan Cage who said: “Norfolk Chamber is backing Devolution. There are so many benefits for business and the local community. Norwich and Norfolk will drop down the rankings, when compared to other regions, if we don’t take advantage of all opportunities.”
The Norfolk & Suffolk Devolution deal would bring £25m a year over the next 30 years to spend on new roads, transport links and a further £100m over the next 5 years for affordable housing. Norwich and Ipswich would receive an additional £30m each over the same period.
Emphasis was put on how important the support of the business community will be to the awarding of the Devolution deal. The call to actions was for those businesses at the meeting to sign the Devolution letter and for as many Norfolk businesses to take part in the consultation by completing an online survey by the deadline of 23 August 2016.
