BREAKING NEWS: New East Anglia devolution proposals put to government

If implemented, the plans would see two new authorities created, one covering Norfolk and Suffolk and the other for Cambridgeshire and the Peterborough district.

Andy Wood, chairman of the East Anglia Leaders’ Group, said: “All leaders remain fully committed to securing an ambitious devolution settlement for residents and businesses across East Anglia. Negotiations with government are positive and progressing well.

“Government is certainly listening to East Anglia. However, to talk more specifically about proposals at this point has the potential to weaken our negotiating position.”

“The ball is now firmly in our court. Locally we must concluded our discussions and present Government with our proposed deals. Government has been clear that councils will need to approve the deals locally before they will formally agree them.

“A full public consultation will take place in the summer to allow local people and businesses to have their say on the plans.”

Although the new proposals are based on the draft agreement published in March, it is now thought that a two-deal model would maximise the benefits of devolution to the whole region.

The authorities would also maintain links in areas such as transport and infrastructure.

Councils have until the end of June to decide whether to take part in the process.

The proposals were presented before the government goes into the purdah period, in which it is meant to avoid taking actions with long-term effects, ahead of next month’s EU referendum.