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Headlines
A lot has been going on over the last few months to move
closer to a devolution deal.
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Our partnership remains strong and we have made
this clear to the new Government.
- A major development has been the approval by all partners in-principle to setting up a Combined Authority.
- We continue to work-up detailed negotiation
positions for our asks and offers.
- We are setting up an officer group to consider
the implications of Brexit and in particular the opportunities that it
presents.
- Sessions are being set up across the Heart of
the South West for elected Members to learn more about devolution and
contribute to our proposals.
Full set of partner
approvals to move towards a Combined Authority
All 17 local authorities, both National Parks, the Local
Enterprise Partnership and all three Clinical Commissioning Groups have given
their in-principle approval to set up a Combined Authority to support our
devolution deal.
Designing the Combined Authority is under way and will take
into account the views of all partners. This will include a period of
consultation later this year before making our proposals to the Secretary of
State.
We have produced a summary of what Combined Authorities are
and what roles they may have.
Brexit and our new
Government
There have been significant developments nationally in the
last two months. The impact of the EU Referendum result remains to be fully
understood however we are working hard to ensure that the Heart of the South
West makes its voice and needs clear. We have also made contact with the new
Government to outline our vision for devolution and show how strong and
determined our partnership is.
A ‘Brexit Resilience and Opportunities Group’ is being set
up to consider the implications of our withdrawal from the EU, to identify the
big issues and how we can make the most from them. It will support our
devolution work but also wider thinking around our area.
We have new Secretaries of State for business (including
industrial strategy) and for communities and local government. We wait to see
what their and the wider Government’s plans for devolution are, and continue to
work on detailed proposals for a deal. We continue to engage with Members of
Parliament and plan to begin in-depth discussions with them after the summer
Parliamentary Recess.
Member Development
Sessions
Local authority partners are setting up sessions for elected
Members to come and learn more about the devolution process, what it can offer,
and the plans that are being developed. They will begin in September and each
council will inform its Members of their meeting date as it is set.
These sessions will:
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Help raise awareness of opportunities to work
together across the area that could lead to devolution deals, attract funding
or new powers.
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Discuss what powers and funds could be accessed
and what it will mean for elected Members, their constituents and authorities.
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Provide information about timescales, key
milestones and more detail about proposals for a Combined Authority.
- Give Members the opportunity to ask questions
and develop a greater understanding of the combined plans.
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