The government is ready to hand the two counties a deal which would transfer powers for issues such as transport, housing, jobs and adult education from Whitehall to Norfolk and Suffolk, along with a £37.4m-a-year investment fund.

For it to proceed, an elected mayor will be created for the two counties, who would head up a new combined authority that is expected to be made up of two representatives from Norfolk County Council and two from Suffolk County Council.

Before the government can lay the necessary Parliamentary statutory instrument to allow that new combined authority........

© Eastern Daily Press