The commitment to the long-running Parish Partnerships scheme - which sees Norfolk County Council match-fund money from parish and town councils for road safety schemes - comes amid controversy over the decision by the Reform administration to axe a separate fund which councillors could access for road schemes. This had allowed each of the 84 county councillors to spend up to £11,000 on small-scale highways schemes. But opposition councillors expressed concern that, with the council needing to find savings, the separate Parish Partnerships scheme could also be axed. In his letter to the councils, Mr Hunter-Clarke said the scheme was "an excellent example" of collaboration between County Hall and both town and parish councils. He said: "As Norfolk continues to navigate significant changes in local government, it is more important than ever that the voices of town and parish councils are heard."