B&NES’ Cabinet is due to meet on Monday, 14th November to approve the draft order to establish the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, providing the next step forward in the Government’s Devolution plan for the area.
If the draft deal is approved, the Council will be closer to powers and funding to the tune of £30 million a year from Westminster being devolved to a partnership made up of B&NES, Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
The Leader of B&NES Council, Tim Warren, has said that this funding is ‘just the tip of the iceberg’, with the potential for an additional transport budget being given to the area and the potential to access further Government investment. Priorities for the area have been identified as improving transport, providing more affordable housing, upgrading broadband and improving local flood defences.
However, as part of the deal, the Government insists there would have to be a new ‘Regional Mayor’ position created to oversee the newly-devolved powers, but only with the support of the Councils involved, so the decisions do not rest solely with one person. This has been an unpopular proposition, particularly after the Mayor for B&NES Referendum held in March this year resulted in a resounding ‘No’ vote to a Mayor for Bath and North East Somerset.