Issue - meetings

Report of Executive Director Place and Regeneration

Purpose of report

This report seeks to endorse an Expression of Interest (EOI) to be made by the Oxfordshire County Council to Government. This is in response to the Government’s devolution policy and seeks to position our region in the next round of devolution for the purpose of creating a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA).

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1           To endorse the benefits from the proposed devolution of powers and functions, and agree to continue building on the collaborative approach across the region to date.

1.2           To endorse the Expression of Interest (EOI) to be submitted by Oxfordshire County Council as the upper-tier authority to Government, noting that the EOI is designed to proactively position our region for early consideration in the next wave of the Devolution Programme.

1.3           To acknowledge the EOI as an initial invitation to Government, opening further dialogue and engagement, and not a decision to establish a Strategic Authority.

1.4           To agree that a further report will be brought to Executive prior to any final decision by the County Council as upper-tier authority on the creation of a Strategic Authority.

1.5           To note the informal Devolution Programme Board will oversee discussions with Government, ensuring robust governance and stakeholder engagement by elected members throughout this process.

Resolved

(1)            That the benefits from the proposed devolution of powers and functions be endorsed and it be agreed to continue building on the collaborative approach across the region to date.

(2)            That the Expression of Interest (EOI) to be submitted by Oxfordshire County Council as the upper-tier authority to Government be endorsed, noting that the EOI is designed to proactively position our region for early consideration in the next wave of the Devolution Programme.

(3)            That the Expression of Interest be acknowledged as an initial invitation to Government, opening further dialogue and engagement, and not a decision to establish a Strategic Authority.

(4)            That it be agreed that a further report will be brought to Executive prior to any final decision by the County Council as upper-tier authority on the creation of a Strategic Authority.

(5)            That it be noted that the informal Devolution Programme Board will oversee discussions with Government, ensuring robust governance and stakeholder engagement by elected members throughout this process.

The Executive Director Place and Regeneration submitted a report which sought endorsement of an Expression of Interest (EOI) to be made by Oxfordshire County Council to Government. This was in response to the Government’s devolution policy and sought to position our region in the next round of devolution for the purpose of creating a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA).

Resolved

(1)            That the benefits from the proposed devolution of powers and functions be endorsed and it be agreed to continue building on the collaborative approach across the region to date.

(2)            That the Expression of Interest (EOI) to be submitted by Oxfordshire County Council as the upper-tier authority to Government be endorsed, noting that the EOI is designed to proactively position our region for early consideration in the next wave of the Devolution Programme.

(3)            That the Expression of Interest be acknowledged as an initial invitation to Government, opening further dialogue and engagement, and not a decision to establish a Strategic Authority.

(4)            That it be agreed that a further report will be brought to Executive prior to any final decision by the County Council as upper-tier authority on the creation of a Strategic Authority.

(5)            That it be noted that the informal Devolution Programme Board will oversee discussions with Government, ensuring robust governance and stakeholder engagement by elected members throughout this process.

Reasons

Opting to begin further discussions with Government on devolution would allow the Council to lead the definition of the strategic authority for our region.  This will provide choice over the geography and the ability to determine the key priorities for our area. 

Should this Council endorse a Mayoral Strategic Authority at a future meeting, it would have a seat at the Council of Nations and the Regions influencing government policy and ensuring local community voice is heard.

Alternative options

The White Paper is clear that the Government intends that all of England be devolved by default and is committed to ending the deals-based approach. The Government will also legislate for a ministerial directive, which will enable it to directly create Strategic Authorities in any places where local leaders in that region have not been able to agree how to access devolved powers. Therefore the “do nothing” option could mean Government legislating on our behalf for devolution.