Devolution set to become default position

Plans to make devolution the default position across a range of government policy areas have been announced in a new English Devolution White Paper. Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner announced the plans, saying the proposals would put England’s regions centre stage and would enable the government to deliver 1.5m new homes. The proposals include new powers for mayors across strategic planning – giving them the ability to guide infrastructure and development projects across areas, housing, transport and skills. Rayner said: “Our English Devolution White Paper will be a turning point when we finally see communities, people and places across England begin to take back control over the things that matter to them.  “Devolution will no longer be agreed at the whim of a minister in Whitehall, but embedded in the fabric of the country, becoming the default position of government.”  The measures will include proposals to create strategic authorities across England, bringing together councils over areas that people live and work in, to avoid duplication and give the UK’s cities and regions a bigger voice.  John Merry, deputy mayor of Salford and chair of the Key Cities group, welcomed the plans but raised concerns over implementation of the measures. “Devolution is a powerful tool for driving the local growth this country desperately needs, but its success hinges on recognising the diversity of UK cities and regions,” he said. “Boosting national growth depends on empowering local city leaders, particularly in essential areas such as housing delivery. They therefore need to be involved in all conversations around what devolution should look like in their region.” He added: “Unfortunately, we are finding some of our city members in situations where they will need to combine powers with other authorities that cannot stimulate growth as powerfully or quickly. “This Bill comes at a time when local authorities have faced immense financial pressure for essential services like temporary housing and social care. We welcome further devolution as a complement to, not replacement for, sustainable long-term funding for local government.” Ian Fletcher, director of policy (real estate), at the British Property Federation, said the white paper was a positive step forward but for devolution to work properly there needed to be a “genuine handing over of power, including fiscal powers”. “We hope that government will look at how local areas can raise and spend more of their own money to help finance long term regeneration,” said Fletcher. He said that the property sector “strongly supports” the introduction of more strategic planning, which if implemented effectively and adequately resourced, should enable housing need to be addressed fairly across authorities. He added: “The proposals to re-organise local government should not be used as a delaying tactic by some councils when updating and completing local plans and progressing major strategic schemes of vital importance to their local area or the national economy. Aligned with grant funding powers from Homes England, this could be a powerful tool for housing delivery.” Read the English Devolution White Paper on the government website >> Photo by ADAM VAUGHAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (14733496s)