The Great East: Mayor hosts Suffolk businesses discuss devolution in East of England 

The Great East: Mayor hosts Suffolk businesses discuss devolution in East of England 

Leaders and Representatives have called for greater collaboration to unlock the East of England’s full potential and secure the investment it deserves.   

Yesterday, Mayor Paul Bristow met with business leaders and representatives from Suffolk Chambers of Commerce to discuss the future of devolution and how the East of England can better coordinate efforts to attract investment, improve infrastructure, and deliver for local communities.  

The Cambridgeshire and Suffolk Chambers of Commerce acknowledged that while administrative boundaries may divide East of England, the regions economic and social challenges are shared, and so must the solutions.  

Mayor Paul Bristow highlighted the East’s strong economic contribution to the UK and the need to match the coordinated voice heard in other parts of the country 

The Combined Authority has worked with partners across the east of England to tackle a wide range of shared challenges, most notably as part of the campaign to enhance the Ely and Haughley rail junctions which extends across our boundaries.  

The meeting brought together key figures from Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough to discuss the establishment of a Combined County Authority, and election of a Mayor in Norfolk and Suffolk. Suffolk businesses operating across the shared boundary were keen to hear about the benefits of devolution coming to Suffolk and the opportunities for cross-boundary collaboration on key issues including Transport and Skills provision. 

Having benefitted from devolution since 2017, Mayor Paul Bristow emphasised his eagerness to ensure the wider East of England is able to benefit and can learn from the experience in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  

Mayor Paul Bristow said “The East of England is one of the few areas in the country that gives more to the Treasury than it gets back – and its time we had a louder voice. Just look at what’s being achieved in the North with strong Mayoral collaboration, Mayors have delivered investment, and results. 

Today’s meeting laid the foundations for a new era of collaboration across the East. Businesses don’t care about administrative boundaries so its important to ensure that when Norfolk and Suffolk elect their new Mayor, we’ll be ready to seize the opportunities and tackle the challenges that don’t stop at our border.” 

Steve Elsom from Suffolk Chamber of Commerce said: “Boundaries are just dots on a map, the Suffolk Chamber Commerce has worked with our colleagues in Cambridgeshire for many years, the creation of a combined authority covering Norfolk and Suffolk means we can now deepen that partnership and ensure the East of England speaks with a clear voice” 

Charlotte Horobin from Cambridgeshire Chambers of Commerce said: “Cambridgeshire and Suffolk Chambers of Commerce have a long history of partnership and collaboration. The election of a new mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk presents a unique opportunity to tackle shared challenges and capitalise on opportunities that ignore our boundaries.”