Devolution proposals to push the South West’s growth ambitions have stepped up a gear with a positive meeting between partners and key civil servants.
Leaders and Chief Executives representing local authorities from Somerset, Devon, Plymouth, Torbay, Exeter and East Devon alongside the Local Enterprise Partnership met with senior officials from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
They discussed how they and the Government could work together to grow the region’s economy and improve productivity through a devolution deal and agreed to hold regular meetings to move the ambitious plans forward.
Skills, transport infrastructure, broadband access, providing more homes and support for businesses to grow were all high on the agenda.
Council leader Ian Bowyer said: “Creating a strong economy, which means jobs, stability and strong prospects for our young people as well as families is vital for the future of Plymouth and the region as a whole. We are already working together across so many areas to deliver growth.
“This was a really positive meeting and sets the scene for closer working that will benefit all our residents.”
Councillor David Fothergill, Chair of the Heart of the South West Shadow Joint Committee added: “Civil servants were impressed at our unity of purpose and desire to see the whole of our area benefit. They have asked for more information on our package of ambitious offers and asks and have agreed to meet with us on a regular basis.”
For well over two years Somerset and Devon county, unitary and district councils, along with clinical commissioning groups, national parks and the Local Enterprise Partnership have been working towards a devolution deal. It would potentially bring additional funding and decision making powers to the local level to help increase productivity and economic prosperity.
A Joint Committee for the Heart of the South West area (HotSW) is being set-up, a move agreed by all 23 partnership organisations. It will be the main body to progress devolution discussions with Government and will be responsible for the delivery of a productivity strategy across the area. It is due to meet for the first time in March.
A devolution deal for the area would potentially see the partners take responsibility for extra powers and budgets with the aim of delivering huge benefits for all residents including higher productivity, better-paid jobs, improved road, rail and broadband links and more affordable homes for the region.
The Government has made clear its view that an elected mayor would not need to be part of any HotSW deal.
All the authorities worked together to jointly submit a productivity prospectus to the Government outlining the region’s case in February 2016. The full Prospectus for Productivity can be found here. This work will culminate in a Productivity Strategy being agreed by the HotSW Joint Committee at its first formal meeting on 2 March 2018.
The partners that make up the HotSW devolution partnership are: Dartmoor National Park Authority, Devon County Council, East Devon District Council, Exeter City Council, Exmoor National Park Authority, Mendip District Council, Mid Devon District Council, North Devon Council, Plymouth City Council, Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset County Council, South Hams District Council, South Somerset District Council, Torbay Council, Taunton Deane Borough Council, Teignbridge District Council, Torridge District Council, West Devon Borough Council, West Somerset Council, Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (HotSW LEP), NHS Northern, Eastern and Weston Devon, South Devon and Torbay, and Somerset Clinical Commissioning Groups.
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