County Hall leaders are on the brink of pressing ahead with a key decision to bring about the £1.1bn devolution deal - and a mayor - for Norfolk and Suffolk.
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 to be set up, Norfolk and Suffolk councils - both Reform-led - must make formal resolutions consenting to the draft legislation.
Suffolk County Council's cabinet had been due to make that decision last week, but put it on hold until November 12.
That decision was made amid ongoing negotiations with Norfolk over the deal and uncertainty over whether the first mayoral election will take place as currently planned in 2028 or whether they could be brought forward to next year.
While Norfolk wants mayoral elections next year, Suffolk is not in favour of that and leader Michael Hadwen is also seeking assurances that it is an "equal partner" in the deal.
But Norfolk County Council is pushing ahead with its formal resolution, with delegated authority to grant consent for the statutory instruments in the hands of Robin Hunter-Clarke, the council's deputy leader.
Before he makes that decision, the authority's cross-party strategic and corporate select committee will discuss the matter on Wednesday (October 21) and make any recommendations to Mr Hunter-Clarke.
Mr Hunter-Clarke said: "Following meetings with Suffolk and the UK government, the good news is that we are almost there in getting a deal over the line.
"As someone who has been sceptical of regional mayors, the reality is that we simply cannot afford to miss out on the opportunity now on the table.
"The deal includes a £1.1bn investment fund over 30 years, as well as greater local powers and the ability to make more decisions here in Norfolk and Suffolk, rather than in Westminster.
"There are still details to finalise, but we hope to make an announcement very soon."
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