Why you should care about devolution

Devolution is happening, and it’s happening to me, you and everyone else in Greater Bristol whether we like it or not.

In June, three councils – Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset – agreed to forming a new authority headed up by a “metro mayor”.

The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (catchy, eh?) will sit above the existing councils to decide how to spend an increased budget and what to do with new powers. The consultation is open now.

Here is why you should care about it:

You’re going to live in a new area

Don’t worry, you’re not being moved anywhere, the area is coming to you – and 1.1 million other people. The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority will sit on top of all the councils which voted in favour of the deal: Bristol, South Glos and Bath & North East Somerset. North Somerset opted out amid concerns that their resources and powers would be controlled by Bristol.

The devolution agreement is quick to point out that this is definitely “not a return to the former Avon County Council”, a concept which still seems to send shivers down the spines of local politicians across the spectrum. Instead, each council would retain its responsibilities and continue to run local services for its own area, but resources and responsibilities for strategic things like transport and housing would be pooled.

You’re going to have to vote for another mayor

He’s only been in office for a few months, but poor old Marvin will have to put up with another mayor above him (unless he puts himself forward for the new role). The new mayor will be elected on May 4, 2017, by citizens in all three of the council areas involved and would sit above – but not replace – the leaders of each of the other councillors.

The new metro mayor would head a cabinet, with the other leaders and Bristol’s mayor all having a seat at the table. Labour’s Andy Burnham has already parachuted in to fight for the Greater Manchester metro mayor position, but we are yet to see what kind of big shots want to put their name down for the little old West Country.

The new mayor’s going to have money to burn

About £1 billion to be exact, over 30 years. The deal is worth £1,000 per head of population, making it the best in the country. The £30 million a year from Government would be invested in a West of England Single Investment Fund, a kind of pot to dip into and make improvements to the area.

The new authority will also find it easier to sell assets to top up the investment fund.

Getting around might just get easier for the first time

Among the set of powers inherited by the new metro mayor is authority over a devolved local transport budget. Fair enough, it sounds boring, but it means Bristol will develop its own integrated transport authority similar to Transport for London. This means buses, trains and, er, other buses, will be joined up under one umbrella with fares and routes potentially set by the local authority and not private companies. 

The metro mayor will also be able to franchise bus services, opening up the possibility for some public-run services. And finally, the moment we’ve all be waiting for: Bristol could be dragged into the 21st century with the introduction of smart ticketing based around an Oyster card-style system which can be used everywhere and on everything.

Some houses might finally get built

The housing crisis that’s been gripping Bristol may get a little kick in the face with the new investment fund which could be used to free up land and encourage house building. The metro mayor would draw up a Joint Spatial Plan to work out a strategic, long-term approach to the expansion of the Greater Bristol area.

Government would also lend a hand to identify and free up surplus property and land which may help trigger much-needed housing development. The metro mayor authority will also have new powers to prepare, submit and determine planning applications for large-scale infrastructure and development.

The hitch

Throughout the negotiations and the debates over whether to sign up or not, there were warning from all sides about a Government which takes with one hand and gives with another.

The Conservative Government and the Coalition before it oversaw a period of austerity which some argue has hit local council budgets hardest, leaving them underfunded, skint and desperate. The Government’s offer, many have pointed out, devolves the responsibility down to a local a level. It also puts up a new mayor as a convenient scapegoat should anything go wrong.

Drop-in sessions for the consultation are being held at the following locations:

• Central Library – Tuesday, August 2, 3.30pm-5pm

• Junction 3 Library, Easton – Wednesday, August 3, 3.30pm-4.30pm

• Henbury Library – Monday, August 8, 11am-12pm

• Filwood Library – Monday, August 8, 1.30pm-2.30pm

• Central Library – Tuesday, August 9, 5.45pm-6.45pm

• Fishponds Library – Tuesday, August 9, 10am-11am

Read more: Bristol is going to elect another mayor