The LGA is increasing its support to its members
Since the publication of the English Devolution White Paper just before Christmas, we and our member councils have been working at pace to digest the proposals and their respective risks and opportunities.
While it is still relatively early days, and the full, detailed analysis will need to be completed, it is clear the proposals represent the biggest changes to our sector in 50 years.
In early January, as first was going to press, the deadline passed for councils to express an interest in being part of the Government’s ‘devolution priority programme’, with a number of our member councils expressing an interest in being fast-tracked for devolution deals.
We also know that other members have expressly ruled themselves out of this process, while others are still debating what course of action is right for them and their local communities.
These differing directions of travel underline the diverse range of views about devolution and local government reorganisation that exist within our sector, and we respect each perspective and each choice equally.
The LGA’s position is clear: we want every council in England to have the ability to secure devolution that works for them, their local economies, and their residents.
Genuine devolution of powers and resources can play a huge role in promoting inclusive economic growth, creating jobs, and improving public services.
In a very centralised country, moving funding and power from Whitehall to local leaders is needed.
We know that local government reorganisation is a controversial issue for some of our member councils.
Proposed reforms in the white paper will have a significant impact on every council and community.
While our members are – and always have been – open to change, we remain clear that devolution and local government reorganisation should be a matter for councils and local areas to decide.
This is why we will continue to engage with members of all types and views across the country and with all our partner special interest groups. We are also reviewing our support offer so we can help those embarking on rapid devolution or reorganisation journeys, alongside those who have already been through – or are still going through – the process, and those who are not.
It is important to recognise that many areas have already gone through their journey of devolution. Some are now well-established entities while others are more recent in their development.
We will be working through what these historic changes to the sector mean for them and the impact on planning, regeneration and housing, as well as funding and spending powers relating to economic development.
“We want every council in England to have the ability to secure devolution that works for them”
As part of this, we are working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to embed learning from the sector as they develop the local government reorganisation and devolution processes, and to shape the programme of support that is needed.
We will be working with key partners over the coming weeks to develop a coordinated support offer for the sector. We continue to lobby for the necessary funding to be able to provide that support at pace and scale.
Areas fast-tracked along this process will need extra government funding and support to have the capacity to deliver, and so their ability to provide existing services is not negatively affected.
The LGA Board has set up a cross-party ‘task and finish’ group, comprising elected members and officers, to develop the LGA’s rapidly evolving policy position and inform our ongoing work across government.
At the same time, we will be closely monitoring the forthcoming English Devolution Bill and working with parliamentarians to ensure we get the best possible legislation on behalf of our members.
In the coming days and weeks, we will be updating our FAQs, introducing new – and updating our existing – communications channels and products, and inviting members to a new series of online sessions to find out more about devolution and/or local government reorganisation, and the support the LGA and partners can provide in navigating them.
Simultaneously, we will be continuing to fight for a fair deal for our members in the forthcoming Spending Review, when we will be reiterating our call for long-term, sustainable funding and certainty.
A new framework
The Government has published its devolution plans for England
Reforms in the wide-ranging English Devolution White Paper will have a significant impact on every council and community.
The Government has said it wants to see all of England benefit from devolution.
According to the Institute for Government, as of June 2024, devolution covered 48 per cent of England’s population, 54 per cent of its economic output, and 26 per cent of its land area.
By completing the map, the Government says it will oversee the rebalancing of power from central government so that local leaders can take back control and increase prosperity for local people.
It is the Government’s strong preference that, in filling in the map, places do so with an elected mayor over a large economic geography – with unitary councils in the area coming together to form its ‘strategic authority’.
The white paper says the Government will facilitate a programme of local government reorganisation for two-tier areas and for those unitary councils where there is evidence of failure, or where their size or boundaries may be hindering their ability to deliver sustainable and high-quality services for their residents.
Foundation strategic authorities will include current non-mayoral combined authorities and combined county authorities, and any local authority designated as a strategic authority without a mayor.
Mayoral strategic authorities will include the Greater London Authority, and all mayoral combined and combined county authorities.
The white paper also sets out principles for agreeing strategic authorities. These include that: they cover an ideal combined population of 1.5 million or more; they reflect current and potential travel-to-work patterns and local labour markets; boundaries are in line with constituent councils and don’t create devolution ‘islands’; they ensure the effective delivery of key functions, including spatial development strategies, local transport plans and get Britain working plans; they promote alignment between devolution boundaries and other public service boundaries, including police, fire and health; and they promote local identity.
The Government says that areas that agree to take on a mayoral strategic authority will see major benefits, including a significant devolution offer that will continue to grow over time, flexible allocated funding with a long-term investment fund, and – once an area has qualified for it – funding granted through a flexible integrated settlement.
Mayoral authorities will also have a representative sitting on the Council of Nations and Regions, with the Prime Minister and first ministers from the devolved governments; and a representative on the Mayoral Council to work with the Deputy Prime Minister on developing devolution and local growth policy.
White paper support
The LGA has refreshed its Devolution Hub to be your one-stop shop on devolution and local government reorganisation. It will also host the latest information about how the LGA will continue to engage our members and partners throughout this process.
If you have local intelligence on devolution and reorganisation that may be of interest to the LGA, please share this with us via your LGA regional advisors.
See the LGA’s factual briefing on the English Devolution White Paper. The white paper itself is available on the LGA website.