Senior councillors ready to postpone elections

Senior councillors are expected to back plans to postpone local elections in Norwich, despite opposition leaders claiming it represents a blow for democracy.

A report for the city council's Labour-run cabinet - ahead of a meeting on Wednesday - advises it should delay this May's vote.

It recommends that putting off polls will allow for more time to contribute to plans for a major reorganisation of local councils.

The government has told dozens of council leaders in England they have until this Thursday to say whether they want elections to go ahead this year.

Ministers had told local authority leaders they would consider postponing polls until 2027 if requested, due to the pressures of planning for local government reform.

Norwich's Labour leader Mike Stonard has not responded to requests for comment on whether he felt elections should go ahead.

But he is due to present the report prepared by council officers recommending a delay.

The report points out there is precedent for this.

In other areas, where local government reorganisation has already taken place, elections were postponed for one year.

It also says that, were elections to take place in Norwich, council meetings would not be able to take place "affecting the council's capacity to participate in decision making" on the local government shake-up.

The report also points out that holding elections in Norwich could cost up to £250,000.

The changes to local government will ultimately see the city council abolished and replaced by an all-purpose unitary authority.

Elections for a so-called shadow version of the new council are expected to take place in 2027.

The report details responses from opposition leaders on the council.

The Green Party's Lucy Galvin said she had "grave concerns".

"Regular local elections are fundamental to democratic accountability… any interference with the normal electoral cycle must be strictly limited," she added.

The Liberal Democrats' James Wright warned that "for there to be no elections this year would present an unacceptable void in democratic accountability".

If cabinet members back the report, Stonard – who the BBC has again asked for comment – will write to the government confirming they want voting to be delayed.

The county council is the only other major authority in Norfolk due to hold elections in 2026, after it supported postponing them last year.

Its Conservative leader Kay Mason Billig has said she wants voting to take place in May.

However, several other council leaders in England are pursuing a delay.

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