Councillors voted 46 to 32 to reject an amendment that would have given Labour the chair of Norfolk's most powerful scrutiny committee, the Strategic and Corporate Select Committee.

Cllr Brian Watkins, seconded by Cllr Kay Mason Billig, had proposed that the committee — which oversees council strategy and corporate performance — should be chaired by a member of the main opposition group, nominating Cllr Dan Roper for the role.

The ruling Reform group blocked the move, and Cllr Barry Gravenell was confirmed as chair of the committee instead, with Cllr Gary Douglas-Beet as vice chair.

The decision means Reform councillors hold the chair of every one of Norfolk County Council's scrutiny and regulatory committees following the party's sweep of the May 2026 county elections.

Opposition members also attempted to delay the entire committee appointments process by moving a procedural motion to defer it to a later meeting, but that too was defeated, 47 votes to 40.

The convention of giving scrutiny committee chairs to opposition parties is followed by many councils as a way of ensuring independent oversight of the executive. Norfolk's new administration has chosen not to adopt that approach.

The full list of committee chairs — all from Reform UK — was ultimately approved by 47 votes to 30.