Joint Statement - Devolution White Paper
Statement from the Leaders of North Warwickshire Borough Council, Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Stratford-on-Avon District Council and Warwick District Council
On 16 December 2024, the Government published the English Devolution White Paper. This White Paper identifies the Government’s intended approach to the devolution of powers from Westminster to more local “Strategic Authorities.”
The White Paper was clear that to achieve objectives surrounding devolution this will also require Local Government Review. This review would result in the abolition of the remaining two-tier local government across the country and establishing unitary government in their place.
This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to review the local government structures within our area and in our opinion, we owe it to our residents, communities, businesses and staff to ensure that this be considered properly.
In a letter from Jim McMahon, the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution also received on 16 December 2024, further details were provided on how this Local Government Review would be achieved. His letter states: “My intention is to formally invite unitary proposals in January 2025 from all councils in two-tier areas, and small neighbouring unitary councils. In this invitation, I will set out further detail on the criteria I will consider when taking decisions on the proposals that are submitted to Government. I intend to ask for interim plans by March 2025.”
Whilst we as Leaders of four District and Boroughs from across Warwickshire collectively welcome the opportunities that devolution may bring to our communities we are concerned about the haste in relation to Local Government Review which is being taken by Warwickshire County Council.
The County Council informed the Warwickshire District and Borough Councils at a meeting on Thursday 19 December 2024, (just three days after the publication of the White Paper) that a submission will be made from the County Council to Government by 10 January 2025.
This submission will not only be seeking the deferral of the scheduled May 2025 elections but will also propose without any debate with the District and Borough Councils that a single Warwickshire Unitary Authority be formed as soon as possible and that when formed this authority would then become a member of the West Midlands Combined Authority.
The White Paper suggests that Government will consider postponing Local Elections scheduled in May 2025 (such as the Warwickshire County Council elections) where this would either help “unlock devolution arrangements” or if the area is included in the “Devolution Priority Programme.” We do not believe that either of the situations are relevant to Warwickshire.
Indeed, it is far from clear as to whether a Warwickshire Unitary Authority would be allowed to join the West Midlands Combined Authority. On this point Richard Parker in a recent BBC interview is reported to have stated: “I think the Warwickshire issue was dealt with at that time and is now in another place. So I do not envisage the boundaries of this combined authority being extended."
In response to the stated position from the County Council, we have written to Councillor Isobel Seccombe, in this joint letter we have stated that: “we urge you withhold from requesting the deferral of the May 2025 elections. Instead, we would all wish to urgently enter meaningful, collaborative, and constructive discussions with the existing principal authorities within the County of Warwickshire to help properly consider the options that exist.”
We therefore look forward to a positive response from the County Council on this matter.
If the County Council do proceed with their planned submission, then we will be making it clear to the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution that we do not support the proposal from the County Council.
