By Geoff Fisher 
On 22 January, the government announced that it had decided that May’s county council elections will not go ahead, so that the council can focus on local government reorganisation and devolution. This accompanies the decision to cancel the mayoral elections also scheduled for May.
Norfolk County Council agreed to delay the 2025 elections in order to secure the government’s devolution deal, based on the promise that a mayor would be elected in 2026.
That timetable was changed without warning in November, delaying the mayoral election until May 2028, despite the significant work already done locally to prepare.
With hindsight, it is clear that the 2025 county council elections could have gone ahead without affecting devolution. Instead, the government has chosen to prioritise reorganisation over local democracy, leaving councils to absorb reputational damage and residents without proper electoral accountability through no fault of their own.
Bus service improvements
Norfolk County Council’s ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plan has transformed public transport across the county, driving a 26% increase in passenger numbers since 2022 and making Norfolk a leading national example for sustainable travel.
A paper discussed at the council’s Infrastructure and Development Committee on 22 January highlights what has been delivered thanks to the £65.45 million secured for Norfolk from the Department for Transport. That includes:
- new and enhanced bus services on more than 44 routes across Norfolk, including more evening and Sunday services
- affordable fares: capped single fares in key towns and multi-operator ticketing
- greener fleet: 75 zero-emission buses in Norwich and 24 more electric buses coming in 2026
- improved passenger experience: real-time information, safer waiting areas, next-stop announcements and real-time information on more buses.
Not only are we seeing record setting and increasing numbers of passengers, but customer satisfaction has also risen to 87%, bucking national trends and reinforcing Norfolk’s approach to improvements in bus travel across the county.
Cllr Greg Peck, Norfolk County Council, Reepham Division
Tel: 07972 230282
Email: greg.peck.cllr@norfolk.gov.uk
Image: Reepham Community Press