Residents of Midsomer Norton and the Somer Valley are being invited by the Community Trust to an evening with the Leader of B&NES Council on Thursday, 4th August in the Town Hall between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., to find out more about the West of England Devolution package currently under consultation.
B&NES Council Leader, Cllr Tim Warren, has represented the area in negotiations with central Government over the Devolution proposals, which would see £1bn of infrastructure investment handed down to the West of England area, as well as additional powers over issues like transport, housing and adult education. A consultation is now underway over the proposals, which would also see the creation of a West of England regional mayor, who would work with the three Councils in the deal to manage the new funding and powers that would be handed down from central Government. The idea behind Devolution is that more decisions should be made locally, rather than nationally, about spending on regional transport, housing, adult education and skills.
At the event, which is open to everyone in the Somer Valley, residents will be able to find out more about how the proposals would work and what it means for places like Midsomer Norton.
Alex Davis, from the Midsomer Norton Community Trust, said: “Although Devolution could seem like a pretty dry subject, it’s important that as many local residents as possible have an opportunity to cut through the complexities and really understand what’s involved and have their say as part of the current consultation. So, we’ve invited Cllr Tim Warren to the Town Hall for a residents’ meeting, which we’re running. We would urge as many people as possible to come along to find out more.”
On the same evening, at 8 p.m., Midsomer Norton Town Council will be debating their position on Devolution with a view to submitting a response as part of the consultation, which opened on the 4th July and runs until 15th August 2016.