Today, Tuesday 1 September, Stratford District Council has made a decision to participate in formal discussions with the West Midlands Combined Authority Shadow Board as part of the Government devolution process.
At the Full Council meeting the District Council agreed for the Leader of the District Council to sit on the newly formed Shadow Board of the West Midlands Combined Authority as an observer, to be in a position to influence decisions and provide the best deal for South Warwickshire, following a proposal from The Cabinet meeting that took place earlier in the day.
Cllr Chris Saint, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council says: “It is important to have these discussions round the same table as potential partners in the Government's devolution programme. There are so many unknowns that it is better to work from within. The decision taken today means that the District Council will be able to play an active part in the devolution process currently under development. This will enable us to decide what the benefits to businesses and residents of Stratford District might be by joining a combined authority and taking part in any devolution deal, when the final details are clear.
“At the same time the Council has agreed to appraise alternatives with other local authorities that reflect the district's rural and small town heritage. This provides greater flexibility to work with partners over where Central Government money is spent. A significant benefit could attract further funding from government, meaning we can strengthen our working relationships with local, private and public sector bodies, while leaving us to run our traditional local services.
“We have always been a big believer in partnership working and where you cannot do things on your own, joining a partnership gives you greater resilience, greater freedom and greater spending powers allowing us to make sure our District benefits as much as possible."
The current timeline indicates a new Combined Authority working fully from April 2016.
The Council decision was as follows:
- That the Leader of the Council sits as an observer on the newly formed Shadow Board of the proposed West Midlands Combined Authority to enable the Council to participate in formal discussions.
- That, at the same time, the Council will actively pursue alternatives with other local authorities that reflect the district's rural and small town heritage.
- That any decision about the Council's longer term membership of any Combined Authority would be by a further vote of Council, following detailed analysis of the economic and other benefits for the communities within Stratford-on-Avon District, voting arrangements, exit strategies and governance issues.
- That Council asks the Leader to provide regular updates on progress, including issues relating to the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill, so that the Council can evaluate the issues and vote on the matter before the Parliamentary Order to create the West Midlands Combined Authority is tabled.
Combined Authority background information:
- A Combined Authority is a grouping of local authorities and other relevant organisations that are created through a legal process - Sections 110 -113 of Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.
- The purpose is to promote economic growth on a sub-regional basis and address issues including transport, skills and economic prosperity.
- The West Midlands Combined Authority proposal is designed on the three geographies of the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership and the Coventry and Warwickshire Local EnterprisePartnership (LEP) areas.
- Districts can only be full members if the relevant shire county council are full members.
- Legal aspects being reviewed in the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill, currently passing through Parliament.
- A Combined Authority is a joint governance arrangement for effective delivery and collaboration of economic development & regeneration, skills and transport.
- A Combined Authority is the Government's vehicle of choice through which greater devolution powers are secured and public sector reform is drive.
- Councils in a combined authority continue to exist in their own right, retain existing powers.
- Combined Authority's role now is to ensure better collaboration and co-ordinated decision-making on devolved powers, economic development, transport, infrastructure and skills, powers devolved from Government.
- A Combined Authority is not a “Super Council" nor does it replace existing Councils.
Consultation Results:
The online survey took place from 5 August to 25 August 2015. A total of 345 responses were received from a cross section of the District.
- Overall 63% of respondents supported the idea of devolution from Central Government to a Combined Authority.
- 67% of respondents agreed that a more co-ordinated approach will help improve economic development and regeneration.
- 66% of respondents agreed that a more co-ordinated approach will help improve the effectiveness and efficiency of transport.
- 60% of respondents agreed that a more co-ordinated approach will help improve the overall economy.
- There was also a strong level of support of the proposal for Councils to work more closely together through a West Midlands Combined Authority. Asked to rate their level of support out of 10, from 1 = do not support at all to 10 = fully support, 56% rated it 7 to 10 and 30% gave it 1 to 4.
- 34% were in favour and 27% were against the inclusion of other groups or bodies as observers in the Combined Authority.
