English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill: CCN responds

Today the government has published its English Devolution and Local Empowerment Bill.

Below, the County Councils Network responds to the Bill's publication.

Cllr Tim Oliver, Chairman of the County Councils Network, said:

“County economies are vital to delivering the long-term growth and productivity gains this country desperately needs. Today’s English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill is another important step to ensuring that every single remaining county area in England has access to a devolution agreement, something which the County Councils Network (CCN) has long called for. The CCN strongly welcomes the extension in devolved powers announced today and the ability of areas to request greater autonomy, over time.

“Whilst we recognise the government has a clear desire for mayoral strategic authorities it is important that mayors do not diminish the role of councils and instead both should complement each other and work in partnership to drive growth, build infrastructure and deliver better local services. It is imperative that new strategic authorities in county areas have parity in the powers and funding available to urban areas; whilst also recognising not every area will be able to move to a mayoral model immediately.

“The Bill includes new ministerial powers to establish strategic authorities without local consent and direct councils to submit local government reorganisation proposals where sufficient progress is not being made. Recognising that significant progress in local areas is already being made, the CCN will engage its member councils on the proposals and closely scrutinise these new powers to ensure they are proportionate.

“The government has been clear that this process is about localism and giving local areas a greater voice and as such it should be up to local areas to determine what their mayoral strategic authority geography is and when they move to that model. Moreover, throughout the debate on local government reorganisation, the CCN believes that it is up to its member councils to decide on the future structures for their areas. The network will continue to work with its members in supporting them to put forward evidence-based proposals that are sustainable in the long-run and to ensure the government make decisions that are fully in line with the statutory criteria.”