Through my roles as county councillor, district councillor, and someone who works closely with town and parish councils across Norfolk, I've witnessed firsthand the uncertainties and challenges facing local governance in the wake of significant policy changes. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking at a Scribe Academy webinar about devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR), exploring what these changes mean for the future of local democracy.

Wearing Many Hats in Local Government

In my various roles representing North Walsham in Norfolk, I've gained perspective from multiple angles of local governance. As a county councillor for one part of North Walsham and a district councillor for another, I'm intimately familiar with the complex relationship between different tiers of government. My portfolio at North Norfolk District Council includes finance, estates, and property services, giving me insight into the asset management challenges that many town and parish councils may soon face.

I've also served as both a town councillor for North Walsham (approx. population 13,500) and as a parish councillor for a much smaller area, so I understand the vast differences in scale and resources across local councils. Beyond these official roles, I'm a school governor, chair of a local Scouts group, and trustee of a charity supporting our community and addressing food poverty.

This multifaceted experience has positioned me to understand the coming changes from various perspectives, particularly as Norfolk and Suffolk navigate both devolution and potential local government reorganisation.

Understanding Devolution vs. Local Government Reorganisation

There's often confusion between devolution and local government reorganisation (LGR), but they're distinct processes with different implications:

Devolution involves transferring decision-making powers from central government to local regions, typically through mayoral combined authorities. This isn't designed to save money for taxpayers—in fact, mayoral authorities often add a precept to Council Tax bills. Rather, it aims to shift certain powers (transport, housing, skills for employment, economic development, and environmental initiatives) to regional control.

Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) involves restructuring local authorities, often by creating Unitary Councils that combine the functions of district and county councils. This is where many of the immediate concerns for town and parish councils arise.

The Democratic Deficit

One of my greatest concerns is what I call the "democratic deficit" that both these changes may create:

Mayoral Combined Authorities

• Turnout in mayoral elections has been consistently low (as little as 27% in some areas)
• The strategic level at which mayors operate often feels disconnected from local communities
• There's potential confusion between the ceremonial mayors of town councils and the executive mayors of combined authorities
• Most critically, there is no formal obligation for mayoral authorities to engage with town and parish councils

Unitary Authorities

• Fewer elected representatives covering larger geographical areas
• Risk of losing local knowledge and accountability
• Service delivery and decision-making potentially moving further from communities
• Officers (like planning teams) potentially being centralised and less familiar with local areas

The Missing Link: Town and Parish Councils

The most concerning aspect of these changes is the minimal consideration given to Town and Parish Councils. In the government's devolution white paper, town and parish councils receive only a brief mention about " strengthening expectations on engagement"—there's no substantive vision for their role in the new landscape.

This is a serious oversight because town and parish councils:

• Are closest to communities and most aware of local needs
• Provide essential local resilience during crises (as demonstrated during the pandemic)
• Often deliver the most visible local services
• Hold invaluable local knowledge that should inform decision-making

The Norfolk and Suffolk Experience

In our region, which comprises two counties and twelve districts spanning a large, predominantly rural area with significant stretches of coastline, we're currently moving through both processes:

• Norfolk and Suffolk were added to the Devolution Priority Program on February 5th this year
• A new combined authority is expected around the end of 2025, with mayoral elections in May 2026
• Business cases for local government reorganization must be submitted by September 26th
• If accepted, shadow elections would be in May 2027, with unitaries taking over by April 1, 2028

This creates a lengthy period of uncertainty, with different districts having different preferences for the future structure. While Norfolk County Council proposed a single unitary authority, most districts (including North Norfolk) have preferred multiple unitaries to maintain more local connection.

The Asset Challenge

A major practical concern for town and parish councils is the potential transfer of assets. While car parks might generate income, they often come bundled with cost-intensive responsibilities like public toilets or play areas. The question becomes: how can town and parish councils balance these new responsibilities without appropriate funding or expertise?

Some assets councils might be asked to take on include:

• Public toilets
• Libraries
• Parks and open spaces
• Community buildings
• Unadopted roads and street lights from housing developments

Key Questions for Town and Parish Councils

As these changes approach, I encourage all town and parish councils to consider:

1. What does meaningful engagement look like? Not just surveys on websites, but genuine dialogue about community needs.
2. Will you have a seat at the table? Will your voice be genuinely heard, or will you just receive new responsibilities?
3. How will mayoral strategies reflect local priorities? Will combined authorities understand the specific challenges of your community?
4. What support will be needed to help town and parish councils take on new roles and responsibilities?
5. Should councils consider clustering together to increase their influence and share resources?

Moving Forward Together

Despite the challenges ahead, I firmly believe this is an opportunity to shape the future of local democracy. Town and parish councils don't have to passively accept whatever is handed down—we can collectively advocate for meaningful engagement, appropriate support, and recognition of the vital role of grassroots democracy.

To protect what matters most to our communities, we need to ensure our voices are heard during this transition. By working together, sharing best practices, and firmly advocating for our communities' needs, we can strengthen local leadership rather than see it diminished.

Watch the Full Webinar

If you'd like to explore these topics in more depth, including questions from town and parish clerks across England and my detailed responses, you can watch the complete webinar here. The session includes valuable insights from clerks already experiencing these changes and practical advice for preparing your council.