Government minister suggests path for North Somerset to join WECA

A government minister has offered a path for North Somerset to join the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).

Regional growth and local government minister and Thornbury & Yate MP Luke Hall says the district could become a “non-constituent member”.

But this would be a symbolic gesture because the status would not grant North Somerset any voting rights or access to WECA’s £900m, 30-year investment fund.

In a letter to South Gloucestershire Council scrutiny commission, Conservative Hall blamed Bristol’s Labour mayor Marvin Rees for the lack of progress and said the Government supported a larger WECA but that it must be led locally.

He wrote: “Progressing any expansion of WECA depends on the commitment of all partners locally – first to develop the proposal and evidence base and then to undertake a consultation.

“The mayor of Bristol was unable to commit to the expansion and did not agree to open the consultation.

“If agreement can be secured between local partners on the expansion of the combined authority’s area, expansion could be implemented to coincide with the next mayoral election, scheduled in 2025, subject to the usual statutory requirements.

“In the meantime, if agreement can be secured between partners locally, there is scope for North Somerset to become a ‘non-constituent’ member of the combined authority, subject to the same legal process at any time, albeit without full benefits of being included in the area of the combined authority.

“I would therefore like to encourage local partners, including Bristol City Council, to continue to seek agreement locally about the appropriate future for WECA, in terms of its geography and functions.”

West of England mayor Tim Bowles, Thornbury & Yate MP Luke Hall and South Gloucestershire Council leader councillor Toby Savage with local campaigners at the park and ride site in Yate. Photo: South Gloucestershire Council Conservatives

In a separate letter to the commission, South Gloucestershire Council leader councillor Toby Savage said the impasse was a “deeply disappointing state of affairs”.

He wrote: “Regarding WECA’s finances, I agree that South Gloucestershire residents should be no worse off and this is why an ambitious prospectus for further regional investment had been prepared.

“The Government had been very clear that they were open to holding discussions with us regarding a financial settlement, but they wished to see the region’s leaders demonstrate our political will to expansion by agreeing to open the consultation.

“Sadly, we did not achieve the unanimity amongst the local authorities to agree to formally submit this funding prospectus.

“As we have now missed the boat to open the consultation to meet the legislative timeline set by government, far from buying a house without agreeing a price, we haven’t even asked the estate agent for the details.

“That is a deeply disappointing state of affairs.”

A WECA spokesperson said: “Becoming a non-constituent member of WECA would mean that North Somerset Council could attend WECA committee meetings but would not be able to vote on decisions relating to existing funding.

“It would be a decision for government as to whether to put further funding through the combined authority if North Somerset became a non-constituent member.”

North Somerset joining WECA as a “non-constituent member” would be a symbolic gesture only. Photo: Josh Rundle

WECA scrutiny committee members are arranging meetings soon to explore options.

In November metro mayor Tim Bowles, councillor Savage and the leaders of North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset councils accused Bristol’s mayor of blocking WECA’s expansion.

In a joint statement they accused Rees of “putting party politics before doing the right thing for the region”.

In response, the Bristol mayor said he was disappointed “an ongoing internal debate” had been made public and that he did support North Somerset joining but only when the Government put in place “a clear financial offer that benefits Bristol and the West of England economy”.

Adam Postans is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.

Main photo of Luke Hall: Parliamentary Digital Service

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