MINISTERS are set to consider plans for North Somerset to join the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA).

Following a public consultation in which 56.7 per cent of participants backed the idea, North Somerset Council voted to join WECA earlier this month.

After a meeting set for June 5 between the Mayor Helen Godwin and North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell, council leaders look set to submit a formal proposal to the national government.

An expansion of the combined authority will support its efforts to become an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA), with proposals at next week's meeting also including the next stage of the region's push towards that top tier of devolution. As leader of an EMSA, the Mayor of the West of England would gain the 'Right to Request' additional powers from government through formal process.

The West of England would then be able to move to secure an integrated funding settlement seeing budgets fully devolved from Westminster to the West of England for housing, regeneration, local growth, local transport, skills, retrofit, and employment support.

An extra £1-million has been allocated by the government to assist with the process of North Somerset joining as a full member of the regional authority.

With the expansion, future funding will “take account of an expanded WECA geography and population” likely increasing future allocations of funding transport improvements and a major new national housing fund, according to the government.

North Somerset joining WECA would add 23 per cent to the combined authority’s population, taking it to a total of 1.225 million, bringing the benefits of devolution to a further almost quarter of a million more people. Altogether, the West has the strongest recent economic growth of any region in the country, including London, and has grown at four times the national average since 2019.

Cllr Godwin, mayor, said: “Council leaders and I, backed by people across the West, want to work even more closely together as a complete region, adding to projects like the £200-million re-opening of the Portishead Line.

“North Somerset becoming a full member of the combined authority will only further amplify the West Country's voice, helping secure more funding to make an even bigger difference for residents.

"The Devolution Act, and plans for us to keep more of the taxes already raised here, are helping continue our strong progress in catching up to other regions.

“As we make the case for more control of our funding and how it is spent, this is an important step forwards for the West of England.”

In a joint statement, Cllr Kevin Guy, leader of B&NES said: “It is vital for more decisions about our region to be made here, to help continue to make life better for people around the West, including North Somerset.

“We can do more when we work together across council borders: from delivering new homes and improving transport to securing greater influence and investment now and in the future. This is a really exciting time for the West of England.”