News / Politics
Call for council unity over devolution
Business leaders across the Bristol area are calling for a swift response to the Government’s offer of greater power and money through devolution.
Business West, which represents 16,000 businesses in the surrounding local authorities, said the region cannot be “complacent” in making the changes required to qualify for extra funding and autonomy.
The move comes as Labour councillors across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset prepare a joint motion opposing the idea of a “metro mayor” for the wider region.
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City regions like Manchester – dubbed the Northern Powerhouse – have already been offered new powers and money through the metro mayor system, which the Conservative Government are holding up as an example.
“George Osborne has put out a very clear message that regional devolution is on the table for those who really want it ” said professor Steve West, president of Bristol Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the West of England Initiative at Business West.
He said we were already “lagging behind” other regions which have “found a way to work together”.
He added: “We have to work quickly to define what as a city region we all want out of devolution, and ensure that we have the governance and leadership capacity and capability in place to guarantee that we use the funds raised in an accountable way that will satisfy Government.”
A city region with it’s own mayor for Bristol and the surrounding areas is likely to gain new transport and tax-raising powers.
Bristol mayor George Ferguson has supported moves for greater devolution and has suggested a metropolitan Bristol area representing all the surrounding authorities.
He has also spoken in support of a regional powerhouse covering Bristol, Bath and possibly Cardiff and Newport.
But surrounding authorities have been reluctant to join, fearing a loss of individual power and influence.
West said devolution for the Bristol region, the only net contributor to the treasury outside of London, would give it greater ability to invest in what it wants.
He added that he was keen to host a meeting between all the local authority leaders to find a way forward.
“In return for our councils working closer together on the matters that are so important to us such as transport, housing and skills we believe we have the chance to negotiate a deal that can strengthen the long term sustainability and prosperity of the West of England,” he added.
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