Agenda item

Rebecca Cox, Principal Policy Adviser, introduced the report on the progress of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill through Parliament. She advised the board that they expected the bill to be granted royal assent within the next two weeks.

Ian Hughes, Head of Programmes, advised the board that there was concern from the Executive Committee on blockages to devolution, particularly with regard to certain Government Departments and some backbench MPs who were unconvinced by the need for devolution. There had been some issues around governance and he advised that those that wanted deals as significant powers, such as Manchester, would be required to have a Metro Mayor. Academics had been commissioned to look at models for alternative mayoral governance models. So far, only Cornwall had a devolution deal without an elected mayor and more pressure needed to be put on ministers.

Andrew Campbell, Associate Director, advised the board that by September 2015 thirty-four bids had been received and eight agreements had been reached. In only four cases had there been no further engagement from government. There was some pressure on some two tiered areas to have a mayor. He expressed cautious optimism that there would be further deals signed by the end of January or February 2016.

In the discussion that followed members raised the following points:

·         Disappointment was expressed at the delay in agreeing further non-metropolitan deals and members expressed concern that the government might say the rules had changed during this period. In addition, it was felt there needed to be recognition from government that there would be different types of deals.

·         With reference to examples from within their localities, members discussed the challenges of cross boundary and cross party collaborations, including: changes to leadership; length of discussions; level of engagement from MPs and their level of understanding.

·         There was concern that the debate was now focused on the form of local government rather than its function.

Decisions

1. It was agreed that a letter would be written to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government urging progress on deals in two tier areas.

2. It was agreed that the LGA would start developing a programme of work to further progress the public sector reform agenda.

Actions

It was agreed that:

A letter would be drafted to the Secretary of State.

A programme of work would be developed to further progress the public sector reform agenda.

LGA officers would develop a prospectus spelling out the opportunities presented by devolution, which would be aimed at backbench MPs.

The member working group would continue to examine ways in which Combined Authorities, Mayors and other areas with devolution deals could be supported within the LGA.