Suffolk County Council votes to fast track devolution plans and cancel May's local elections

Why it matters: The move could result in all six of Suffolk's district councils, including Ipswich Borough Council, being replaced by two large unitary authorities, fundamentally changing how local services are delivered in the region.

The big picture: Under the government's Devolution Priority Programme (DPP), Suffolk and Norfolk would:

• Share a directly elected mayor

• See current councils merged into larger authorities

• Have more local control over funding and powers – although this is fiercely contested by many

• Postpone May's local elections until 2026

What they're saying:

• Conservative council leader Matthew Hicks called it "one of the biggest decisions this council will take in its 50 plus-year history" and said it was "better to be engaged and part of the process."

• Sarah Adams, Labour group leader, supported the decision, noting it aligned with Labour government policy.

• Andrew Stringer, leader of the opposition Greens, Liberal Democrats and Independents group, who are supportive of devolution but not the cancellation of local election, criticised the plans, saying "It really benefits the Labour Party and Conservative Party here in Suffolk to not have an election in 2025 because they fear that they might not do very well."

The other side: Protesters gathered outside Endeavour House before the meeting, demanding May elections proceed as planned.

Inga Lockington, County Councillor for St Margarets and Westgate (Liberal Democrat), warned: "If we have a mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk they will simply have to tow the line and do what the government wants. It won't be about what we say locally."

Critics warn that a combined Norfolk-Suffolk authority would disadvantage Ipswich, with local businessman and campaigner Mark Ling previously warning that "Norfolk has 150,000 more people than Suffolk, any election will ALWAYS result in a mayor decided by Norfolk's preference, and its will."

Ling also points to previous regional partnerships that "delivered over £1bn in infrastructure upgrades to A11, A47, an almost complete Norwich orbital, and focus on Norwich-Cambridge tech corridor" while "delivering nothing for Ipswich & Felixstowe."

What's next: The government will announce by the end of January which areas have been successful in their DPP applications. If approved, more detailed proposals and consultation would follow and May's local elections would be delayed until 2026. If not selected for the programme, local elections would take place as normal.

Bottom line: There are still many unknowns regarding how devolution will shape up and impact our town and region. While supporters argue the changes will streamline services and bring more powers locally, critics fear it could reduce democratic accountability and local representation.