News / Politics
Bristol councils to work on devolution
Councils in the Bristol area have agreed to work towards a new system of regional governance to obtain more power from central Government.
Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset councils said they have set up a Strategic Review of Governance to coincide with national plans for devolution.
An offer of more powers and money is on the table to local authorities which can commit to combining, using the model of the Northern Powerhouse which will see a “metro mayor” for the Manchester area.
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Leaders from the West of England Partnership region said the review will take between nine and 18 months.
“We agree today to undertake a review of governance on how we strengthen our joint working as four unitary authorities, with a view to obtaining devolved powers from the government for the benefit of all our residents,” the leaders of the four councils said.
Business leaders in Bristol have already warned that the area is lagging behind other “city regions” in obtaining more powers from central government.
The Strategic Review of Governance will be a formal process looking at the governance structures that would best fit the devolution of certain functions to the four authorities.
Labour Party groups on all four councils are preparing a joint motion objecting to a “metro mayor” system which would see an elected leader representing all local authorities.
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