Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

• Devolution
  Find out more about the Government’s plans to form a Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk
• Local Government Reorganisation
  Find out more about proposals to replace Suffolk County Council and the five district and borough councils, and why we have proposed three unitary authorities for Suffolk, rather than one single council covering the whole county
• Latest News
  Keep up to date with the latest information

Devolution

Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from UK government to local authority level. It is important because decisions are made closer to the local people, communities and businesses they affect.

What will devolution look like in our region?

A devolution deal will create a new single body, known as a Strategic Authority, for Norfolk and Suffolk. It would initially take the form of a combined county authority.

These arrangements would be agreed prior to the first Mayoral election. This was originally intended to be in May 2026, but the government has now delayed this until May 2028.

The key functions of the strategic authority would include strategic transport functions, such as support for buses, trains and concessionary fares, skills and driving economic growth.

What is the Devolution Priority Programme?

The Devolution Priority Programme is a fast-track process with additional support for areas wishing to establish a Mayoral Combined County Authority at pace.

On 5 February 2025, the government confirmed that Suffolk and Norfolk would be on the Devolution Priority Programme, which would see a regional Mayor elected in May 2026. This, as previously stated, has now been delayed by the government until May 2028.

What powers will the elected Mayor have?

The Mayor will be directly elected by the people of Norfolk and Suffolk. The elected Mayor will have the ability to speak directly to government ministers and secure funding for local projects. They will also be able to make important decisions, attract investment and improve infrastructure – taking a wider, strategic role spanning multiple councils.

What consultation has taken place?

The UK government conducted an eight-week Norfolk and Suffolk devolution consultation, which ended on 13 April, 2025. The consultation sought views on a proposal to form a Mayoral Combined County Authority for the local government areas across Norfolk and Suffolk.

You can read a summary of Babergh and Mid Suffolk's response to this, which was discussed at full council meetings on 7 April and 10 April respectively, in this media release.

Where can I find out more?

• White Paper on English Devolution
• Official Government website

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR)

The government’s long-term vision is for simpler council structures, which make it clear who is responsible for services.

Currently, across Suffolk, services are split between Suffolk County Council, and one of five district or borough councils in a ‘two-tier’ arrangement.

Depending on where you live, you currently receive services from Suffolk County Council and either Babergh District Council, East Suffolk Council, Mid Suffolk District Council, West Suffolk Council or Ipswich Borough Council.

The government believes reorganising and simplifying councils can drive economic growth while delivering better public services.

Reorganisation would see all six councils in Suffolk replaced with one or more all-purpose ‘unitary’ authorities who would be responsible for all local authority services in their area.

Some local services, such as some parks, allotments, cemeteries, community centres, markets etc., may also be delivered by your local town or parish council. Town and parish councils are not directly affected by these proposals.

When can we expect this to take place?

Two proposals for Suffolk were submitted to the government in September 2025 - Suffolk's five district and borough councils propose three unitary councils; while Suffolk County Council proposes one unitary council covering the entire county.

A statutory consultation into both proposals ends on 11 January 2026.

The government will then decide the new council structure for Suffolk and is expected to announce this in March 2026. Elections to shadow authorities could be expected in May 2027, with new unitary councils going live in April 2028.

What’s your council’s position?

The five district and borough councils of Suffolk - Babergh, East Suffolk, Ipswich, Mid Suffolk, and West Suffolk - submitted a joint proposal for three unitary councils in Suffolk.

Suffolk is a county of contrasts, from coastal towns and rural villages to vibrant urban centres. The Three Councils For Suffolk proposal recognises this diversity and is built on three strong foundations: local leadership, tailored services, and financial sustainability.

This proposal offers an alternative to Suffolk County Council’s vision of a single “mega council" which will be too large to work effectively and too remote for local residents to be heard. 

Instead, we are championing a structure that is big enough to deliver, local enough to care. 

You can read more about Three Councils for Suffolk on the dedicated website, or read our media release here.

The Three Unitary Councils plan responds directly to what people across Suffolk have said they want: councils that are local, greater accountability with local councillor leadership, and provide services that understand and reflect the needs of Suffolk’s diverse communities. 

It also delivers value for money. Independent analysis by KPMG shows the model could unlock £34 million in annual savings, while allowing reinvestment of £20 million every year back into vital services such as social care, highways, and housing. 

This model also strengthens the voice of Suffolk in the new Mayoral Combined Authority for Norfolk and Suffolk, ensuring that local issues, whether rural or urban, aren’t lost in a county-wide approach. 

It will: 

• Put residents first, with services delivered by councils that know their communities. 
• Empower town and parish councils making sure they are fully engaged in decision-making. 
• Support businesses by aligning council structures with Suffolk’s real economic geography. 
• Enable the voluntary and community sector to thrive through better engagement and fairer funding. 
• Enable councils to continue to work together across Suffolk where there is commonality of service, through shared service arrangements for additional efficiency. 

The proposal builds on our joint interim report submitted to government in March, which described how ‘a one size fits all’ approach will not work for a county with such varied communities and businesses - rural, coastal, industrial, agricultural and urban.

Our response to the government's LGR consultation

Please use the links below to access our responses to the government's consulation on LGR, which ended on Sunday 11 January 2026:

1. Our response to the Three Councils for Suffolk proposal
2. Our response to the One Suffolk proposal