Viva la Devolution!

A brief look at what councils are joining the devolution priority programme, ahead of Friday’s deadline to enter.

The Government's intention is to phase out all two-tier council structures to make unitary authorities and larger strategic authorities in what is the biggest shake-up to local government since the Local Government Act 1972. The Devolution White Paper assumes that Strategic Authorities will have a population of over 1.5 million and cover a sensible geography in line with local labour markets.

Councils accepted on to the devolution priority programme will be allowed to postpone their May 2025 elections to prepare for a new strategic or unitary authority to take power in 2026.

The plans have seen a pattern of opposition from district councils and smaller parties like the Liberal Democrats and Greens who stand to lose from a likely mayoral system. County councils and unitary authorities have been keener to support the devolution programme, noting the opportunity for improved funding deals, public service efficiencies, and decision making at a strategic scale. Cynics say county councils are conveniently avoiding what could be a tricky May 2025 election cycle – ‘Turkeys voting to postpone Christmas’ as one County Councillor put it. County Council leaders from all parties have argued the Government's trajectory to end the County and District system is so clear that it is best to jump before they are pushed.

Councils requesting to join the devolution priority programme:
Kent County Council and Medway will submit a joint proposal. 

East and West Sussex County Councils, and Brighton and Hove City Council approved a joint proposal on Thursday morning.

Hampshire County Council has approved the creation of a Combined Authority including Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council, and Southampton City Council (despite the Isle of Wight Council voting against the plans).

South Midlands: Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes unitary authorities have submitted a joint request, leaving out North and West Northamptonshire unitary authorities who were part of initial talks. The two Northamptonshire councils have decided that they will still express an interest in joining the new authority.

A Thames Valley Strategic Authority is supported by Oxfordshire County Council who will look to combine with unitary authorities in Berkshire. Oxford City Council oppose the plans wanting a city-based unitary instead.

East Anglia: Norfolk and Suffolk County Councils are to join the programme. 

Surrey County Council voted in favour despite all district councils opposing it.

Worcestershire County Council will join the priority programme to become a Unitary Authority 'a One Worcestershire Council'. A Three Counties strategic authority with Gloucestershire and Herefordshire Counties had previously been floated.

Cumbria: Westmorland and Furness Council have approved joining the devolution programme with Cumberland Council. Both are already unitary authorities.

Essex County Council, Thurrock Council, and Southend-on-Sea (the latter two being unitary authorities) will submit a bid to join the priority programme. The County Council will confirm this in a full council meeting on Friday morning.

Devon County Council have requested to join the programme despite its district councils opposing plans. Devon has also posed a joint strategic mayoral authority with Cornwall - a plan not favoured by Cornwall. Exeter City Council opposes a single unitary authority for Devon, proposing a unitary authority for the greater Exeter area instead.
 

Heart of Wessex: Wiltshire, Dorset, and Somerset district councils will move forward with plans for a Heart of Wessex combined authority. Wiltshire councillors have expressed concerns about the authority eventually moving to a mayoral system however.

Councils who won’t join the programme:

Hertfordshire County Council ‘needs more time’ and so May elections will still run.
 
Councils who have requested to suspend May 2025 elections:
Thurrock Council 
Oxfordshire County Council (whilst ‘expressing significant reservations’)
Surrey County Council
Hampshire County Council
Worcestershire County Council
Devon County Council
East and West Sussex County Councils
Norfolk County Council
Suffolk County Council
Warwickshire County Council
 
And much more is to follow... the devolution priority programme deadline is just the beginning of the most significant switch up to England's system of local government in a generation.