The lingering legacy of Avon 20 years on

20 years ago Avon ceased to exist – well officially anyway.

On April 1 1996, the unloved and much maligned Avon was abolished by John Major’s Conservative government. 

In one swoop a brave new world was created – Avon was replaced by Bristol City, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset and North Somerset councils.

However, much to chagrin of many, the name Avon lives on. We still have Avon & Somerset Police, Avon Fire and Rescue, Avon Coroner’s Court and a whole host of other organisations and clubs who are gamely hanging on the defunct name.

Two decades later, those annoying drop-down menus can still refuse to recognise Bristol and make us choose Avon as our county.

The dark shadow of Avon still looms large and the merest hint of suggestion of its reintroduction induces political hyperbole.

Just last December, Dr Liam Fox, MP for North Somerset, was full of indignation at the prospect of a ‘metro mayor’ for the area, telling Parliament: “I would be shocked and appalled if the county of Avon was effectively brought back.”

He was clear – one leader must not rule them all: “Any attempt to reintroduce Avon, directly or through the back door via Treasury pressure, would be regarded as an enormous betrayal.”

He called on the Communities Secretary Greg Clark to “guarantee that it will not happen”.

The emphatic reply came loud and clear: “I can assure [Liam Fox MP] that I have no intention of reintroducing Avon by the front door, back door or side door.”

Phew!

However, Clark had not reckoned with George Osborne’s Machiavellian announcement just five months later.

In April’s budget he announced that the West of England could get devolved powers and be represented by a single, directly-elected mayor.

If it goes ahead, the new combined Western Mayoral Authority could be worth £1bn and the new authority would be responsible for decisions currently handled by the Government including transport, skills training and housing.

However, there is a but – and it’s a big one.

The final agreement is conditional upon the agreement of all four West of England councils involved.

Bath and North East Somerset Council leader Tim Warren said he was “pleased the chancellor has recognised that there is a case in the West of England for a devolution deal” and South Gloucestershire Council leader Matthew Riddle said the deal could provide “real and tangible benefits for residents and businesses”.

On the streets of Bristol and Weston-super-Mare 

But others are not so happy. 

Bath and North East Somerset Lib Dem councillor Dine Romero told the BBC that the government’s “insistence on imposing an unwanted and unnecessary” directly-elected mayor is a “mockery of its devolution rhetoric”.

And Anna McMullen, Green councillor for Easton, said: “This new proposal for another mayor (making three for Bristol) is being rushed through with no local say. Local people need to have a chance to discuss what this will mean for our city and our region.”

But what is so bad about a potential return of an Avonesque political, economic and social powerhouse? 

Writing for Bristol24/7, former Bristol West MP Stephen Williams said: “The first thing to make clear that what is proposed now is NOT a recreation of Avon.

“What is proposed is a new suite of strategic powers on the economy, skills, housing and transport that will be exercised by the mayor of the West of England either under his or her sole control or held by the new West of England combined authority that will be chaired by the mayor. These strategic powers will fill the void left when Avon was abolished.”

Robin Hambleton, Professor of City Leadership at UWE, who is carrying out research on local governance in England, stresses that the new Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016 aims to strengthen strategic city region leadership.

“The area that used to be governed by Avon County Council makes a lot of sense when you look at the socio-economic structure of the Bristol city region. The boundaries between the four unitary authorities created in 1996 are pretty unhelpful if you want to secure sound strategic planning of, for example, transport, housing and economic development.

“However, this does not mean that we should re-create a super-city – merging the four unitary authorities into one mega authority – along the lines of Avon County. Rather it suggests that we should develop strong arrangements for governing those matters that require a city region perspective and approach. The Greater London Authority provides an example of this approach.”

But bigger things than a return of Avon could be on the horizon.

In February Bristol, Cardiff and Newport launched a joint bid to create a “Great Western Powerhouse” – an economic, not political, partnership – to compete with the likes of Manchester and the Midlands.

Bristol mayor George Ferguson said the partnership would have “enormous economic benefits”, adding ”we are stronger working together”.

Of course it’s the “working together” that is the key, and once again the divisions are clear and the knives are out.

Disgraceful behaviour by the Bristol Mayor,after his debacle over devolution,presuming everyone will fall in line. https://t.co/3OpsjcPFTq

— Elfan Ap Rees (@elfanaprees) February 12, 2016