THE leader of BCP Council has slammed the government’s looming deadline for opting into the fast-track devolution process as “unrealistic” and said there was no hope of meeting it.
Although it does not form part of the two-tier system of local government being abolished under devolution plans, BCP does not have a high enough population to warrant being a standalone authority – it would need to combine with another/others.
Going forward, the government white paper outlines any new combined authorities must have a population of at least 1.5m people.
BCP Council would be axed under devolution plans
Following the announcement of a priority programme for those authorities that want to be on the fast track to mayoral devolution, a meeting of BCP Council’s overview and scrutiny board met on Monday to discuss how to respond. The deadline for inclusion is Friday.
Speaking at the meeting, BCP leader Cllr Millie Earl said the “unrealistic government imposed timetable” raised concerns about openness and transparency.
She said: “Quite honestly, I think devolution is fundamentally a really good thing, but there needs to be democratic principles at the heart of it and I haven’t seen that with this paper. I think we are heading on a trajectory where the democracy of it is kind of getting left to the wayside to deliver the agenda of devolution based on what the government want to see, rather than what communities need.”
Turning to options for BCP Council to merge with Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire councils to create a Heart of Wessex deal, or to join up with Hampshire, she added: “If I’m honest, the devolution options on the table I don’t feel actually work for the residents of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
“In September we submitted an expression of interest for BCP Council as a devolved area and that best represents our urban economic geography and gives us the strongest opportunities for growth and potential for businesses and our places.”
BCP Council leader Cllr Millie Earl
She added both Heart of Wessex and Hampshire were not opposed to BCP Council joining them, but added: “If we were to look at a wider region – and a lot of it comes down to Cornwall and Devon – if they can reach a deal together, then that changes things as it means then Devon wouldn’t be available to potentially join the Wessex area and actually, I think working across a much wider area means there would be a balance of interests in a strategic authority and it wouldn’t be so rural.
“I want to reassure you that there is no done deal here – every day it is moving and there is something different coming up and every local authority is feeling the pressure of getting on that first wave.”
Commenting on how the white paper outlines any new combined authorities must have a population of at least 1.5m people, she added: “For me, either the goal is to deliver meaningful devolution that reflects strategic needs of areas we live in and our communities who it is going to affect, or they need to take the country and just carve it up on a 1.5m population basis, because if they are trying to do it both ways they lose the fundamental point of devolution which is a system of governance that works on a relevant geographical basis.”
Cllr Philip Broadhead told the meeting he was “dismayed and disappointed” at the government’s decision to move so quickly, adding: “This is a one in a generational change to the fabric of regional government.
“This is too big a decision to jump one way or another without knowing what the residents think and feel. As we know, many are still angry and disappointed with BCP Council and I imagine they will be dismayed to hear there are more changes on the way.”
He proposed an extraordinary meeting to enable councillors to look at all options available.
However, Cllr John Beesley warned members that missing the 10th January deadline could result in the government imposing a decision, adding: “I know if the government is resigned to doing something, it will do it and we’re leaving ourselves extremely vulnerable, I think.
“We need to be more proactive. If we’re not, it will be done unto us.”