This is the 13th edition of devointelligence and over the past three months we have oft repeated the Government’s “devolution revolution” mantra, many times with quotation marks indicating that the full implications of devolving some transport and skills funding and powers is still open to debate.
However, what has become clear is that in terms of local government governance this is a transformative initiative – and one that is proceeding largely by stealth. Elected Mayors will not just become a feature of northern Labour conurbations such as Greater Manchester or Sheffield City Region. They will also be elected in just over a year in Greater Lincolnshire and East Anglia, as the Chancellor announced in his recent Budget.
More county devo deals will be announced in due course covering other rural council areas including the Conservative heartlands of Oxfordshire and Hampshire. Labour local authority leaders have long objected to the ‘imposition’ of a Metro Mayor but most have let go of their irritation in the interests of the offer on the table. Conservative Council leaders are no less irritated and it will be interesting to see what they extract from the Treasury in return for quiesence. Given that Councils are increasingly restless, for example on compulsory academisation, their prize may be significant.
But there can now be no doubt that the face of English politics is changing, thanks to devolution. It is entirely possible that across the country we will end up with thirty or so elected Mayors who will be de facto leaders as far as the public and media are concerned. Despite the fact that this is a more collegiate model of devolution than the London Mayor, with Council Leaders playing their part in cabinet decisions, at some point questions will inevitably be raised regards the large number of local councillors, the expense incurred on local leaders and even whether some roles can be ‘lifted up’ to the combined authority level.
Given that the Government is no friend of local government those days may arrive sooner rather than later – especially if social care is ever taken away from it as education has been. But all that is for another day – for now it is about delivering the devo deals. Already 54% of the population in the north will have elected Mayors, but this will be 54% of the whole of England shortly, possibly 100% before the next General Election and, as we report today, there may also be deals in Wales to follow the one already agreed in Scotland.
There are clearly many twists and turns of the wheel to come in the devolution revolution. We are pleased that devointelligence has proven such a popular way of keeping in touch and that more than a hundred subscribers share our view that this is an important new political agenda.
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What else is happening?
LIVERPOOL
Forced academisation “threatens” Northern Powerhouse
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Employment, Nick Small has told the MJ that the Council has been in discussions with education partners to explore creating a ‘sponsored academy trust’, in response to the Government’s plans to convert all state schools into academies. The region’s devolution deal includes responsibility for skills, but Nick Small says that removing local government from education “threatened Mr Osborne’s plans for a Northern Powerhouse”.
LONDON
London Mayoral Candidates Launch Transport Manifestos
Conservative and Labour candidates, Zac Goldsmith and Sadiq Khan have launched their transport manifestos for the London Mayoral elections in May. Zac Goldsmith’s manifesto contains plans to secure funding for Crossrail 2 and for extensions to the Sutton Tramlink, Bakerloo Line and London Overground to Barking Riverside; but Sadiq Khan announced his intention to go further and investigate plans for a potential Crossrail 3, new orbital links for outer London, DLR and tram extensions, and new river crossings for East London.
NORTH EAST
NECA asks for “clarification” on devo deal
The North East Combined Authority has written to the Government seeking greater certainty over areas of the region’s devolution deal after only Newcastle City Council voted in favour of the agreement last week. An extraordinary NECA leadership board meeting of all seven council leaders is expected to be held in the week commencing 9 May to consider the further information provided from government.
WEST MIDLANDS
Shropshire preparing to join West Midlands Combined Authority
Chief Executive of Shropshire Council, Clive Wright has presented a report to the Council which recommends that the Council apply to join the West Midlands Combined Authority. The council has previously rejected the idea of joining the WMCA, and the move would cost the Council £25,000 per year. Cabinet members are expected to reach a decision by Wednesday.
OTHER
Select Committee Chair seeks assurance over local government finance and business rate exemptions
The Chair of the Local Government Select Committee, Clive Betts has written to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Greg Clark asking for assurance that the four-year funding deals for local authorities in the Local Government Finance Settlement will not be affected by the business rate exemptions for small businesses that were announced in the Budget.
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