Norfolk County Council’s elections this year look unlikely to go ahead, after councillors voted to ask the government to cancel them.
But the controversial decision - a step on the road of a process which could see Norfolk's councils abolished and a Norfolk and Suffolk mayor created - has come in for criticism.
The decision was made, with 52 in favour, seven against and one abstention, at an extraordinary meeting of Norfolk County Council, despite fierce opposition from some.
It comes as the Labour government's drive to reorganise local government and devolve powers from Whitehall raises the prospect of all eight of Norfolk's councils being scrapped and replaced in the biggest shake-up in 50 years.
County councillors voted to request that the government allow its May elections to be suspended, so the focus can be on putting together proposals for reorganisation in Norfolk, including for mayoral elections next year.
But angry Liberal Democrat and Green councillors said it was "undemocratic".
Kay Mason Billig, leader of Norfolk County Council, described it as a "bizarre situation" but said the authority had little choice.
She said: "We find ourselves here today being pushed in what I call indecent haste to make a decision to join the devolution priority programme, which seems to be the only option for us."
But she said the council was being asked to do so at "breakneck speed" and that the council was being asked to trust the government.
She said: "I think the experience of the last six months demonstrates we cannot rely on this Labour government and I am extremely reluctant to trust them now.
"But, if we do not do this, the implied threat is we go to the back of the queue and risk getting nothing."
Her deputy Andrew Jamieson said the details of the devolution deal would be clear by late summer, with another decision on whether to proceed in the autumn.
But Liberal Democrat group leader Brian Watkins said postponing the elections was "just plain wrong".
He said it would mean the Conservative administration would avoid judgement at the ballot box in May.
Steve Morphew, leader of the Labour group, said the elections needed to be cancelled to allow the mayoral structure to be set up.
He said: "I have been won over by the argument for a mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk and I've long been an advocate for unitary councils.
"I cannot support a unitary Norfolk, but what is the right answer is what we need to debate in the coming months."
Green group leader Dr Catherine Rowett said it was wrong to cancel the elections, saying decisions for the future reorganisation would be made by "councillors who have outstayed their mandate".
After the full council meeting, the council's Conservative cabinet met and agreed to write to the government requesting inclusion on the priority list and the suspension of the elections.
District council leaders criticised the 'rush' and said, given all councils in Norfolk are ready to talk about reorganisation, there was no need to cancel the county elections.
Reform UK also criticised the election suspension and a number of their supporters gathered in the public gallery at County Hall to watch the meeting.
Afterwards, Great Yarmouth Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe said: "Let me be abundantly clear - this is an outrage. Cowards, running scared of the people they are supposed to represent."
The government has been clear it wants a mayor for Norfolk and Suffolk and that it supports unitary authorities.
That would end the current two-tier systems in Norfolk and Suffolk, where some services are provided by County Hall and some by district, borough and city councils - meaning all councils would be abolished and new ones formed.
The government has said it wants consensus over proposals for reorganisation, but previous shake-up attempts faltered amid acrimony.
If the government does agree to cancel the elections and put the counties on the devolution programme list, it will start the process for mayoral elections in 2026.
Norfolk and Suffolk councils would then hold detailed talks about what reorganisation would look like.
But district council leaders, including Breckland Council's Conservative leader Sam Chapman-Allen and Liberal Democrat leaders Tim Adams (North Norfolk) and Sue Holland (Broadland) have railed against "the arbitrary creation of large super distant unitary councils".
They argue that, while they support the principle of devolution, the process should not be rushed into without proper consideration or local accountability could be lost.
Suffolk County Council is holding a similar vote this afternoon.
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