A proposal for a separate elected mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and one for Norfolk and Suffolk is being given a last-ditch push by Cambridgshire leaders as the clock ticks on devolution discussions.

Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire leaders will meet in Newmarket today in search of an agreement before Friday – which is seen as the deadline for a deal if mayoral elections are to be held next year.

Cambridgeshire County Council leader Steve Count said the authority was putting forward proposals to the government for two combined authorities and two mayors, but there was an underlying commitment to work together so it was still an East Anglian deal.

Ministers have not given up hope of a three county deal and there is no official government blueprint for the two-separate mayor approach meaning it is unlikely to be rubber-stamped by Whitehall when EU referendum restrictions begin.

Leader will not have time to get approval before a Monday, July 4 timetable.

Labour's Norwich City Council leader Alan Waters, who met members of the business community yesterday to discuss the deal, said there were mixed messages from the government about whether there was one deal or there were two deals on the table.

He said today's meeting would revolve around the number of deals and how much money there was on the table and if there would be enough to 'oil the wheels' if it was a two deal approach.

He added that he wanted to see if there was an appetite for a non-mayoral approach,

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