Agenda item

Report by Chief Executive (attached).

The Committee considered a report by the Chief Executive (circulated previously) regarding the Devon and Torbay Devolution Offer.

The Chief Executive introduced Phil Adams, Service Manager, Economic Inclusion, Skills and Knowledge Economy / Programme Lead, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay Devolution atDevon County Council who gave the Committee a presentation on the proposed Devon and Torbay Devolution as follows:

·         Devolution is the transfer of powers and funding from central government to local government.

·         Decisions can be made closer to the communities and businesses they affect.

·         It would mean more effective, better targeted public services, greater growth and stronger partnerships between public, private and community leaders in local areas.

·         It is the Government’s ambition for every part of England that wants a devolution deal to have one by 2030.

·         Devolution deals agreed or proposed to date cover 60% of England’s population.

·         The devolution framework continues to evolve, Combined County Authorities (CCA) were a new model that have been designed for rural areas.

·         There were different levels of deal on offer depending on the type of governance model.

·         The powers and funding available now ranged from the highest level 4 to the lowest level 1.

·         A non-mayoral governance, such as Devon, attracted Level 2 powers, other level 2 proposed deals currently accepted by government were from Cornwall, Lancashire (Lancashire County Council, Blackpool Council, and Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council) as well as Devon and Torbay.

·         A Combined County Authority would give the area a stronger voice in Whitehall.

·         The priorities of the Authority would include:

Ø  Maximising our economic potential – skills and education; and supporting local businesses

Ø  Addressing our housing pressures

Ø  Improving local transport

Ø  Meeting net carbon zero ambitions

Ø  Delivering investment in Devon and Torbay

Ø  Creating a strong and sustainable local economy

·         Benefits of the deal would help in areas such as Economy and Growth, Skills and adult education, housing, transport and net zero and low carbon.

·         The immediate impacts of the devolution offer for 2024-25 would mean local control over the Adult Education Budget, input into the development of the Local Skills Improvement Plan, Democratic control of the functions and roles of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Capital funding of £16million for Green Homes investment programme, green business transition, green skills capacity building, transition to low carbon shipping, stronger partnership with Homes England and a platform for further devolution over time.

·         The Principles of the CCA would be:

Ø  Effective Leadership

Ø  Sensible Geography

Ø  Flexibility

Ø  Appropriate accountability

Ø  Partnership

Ø  Inclusivity

Ø  Additionality

Ø  Subsidiarity

Ø  Collaboration

·         The CCA would consist of Constituent Members – Three members each nominated by Devon County Council and Torbay Council.

·         Non-Constituent Members – up to four members, including two representatives of the Devon District Councils.

·         Associate Members – two members representing business and skills sectors.

·         There would be A CCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee, an Audit Committee, Advisory Boards and the Team Devon Joint Committee – made up of representatives of the Devon District Councils, National Park Authorities and Devon Association of Local Councils.

·         The six constituent members would have full voting rights.

·         Non- constituent members will have voting rights on all but a small list of reserved maters.  Reserved matters included approval of annual CCA budget, constitution changes, the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer and significant financial decisions.

·         The Act did not allow associate members to vote.

·         There would be no casting vote for the Chair.

·         It was hoped that the intent of the CCA would be to seek consensus on decisions between all members, with that principle to be embedded within the Constitution.

·         The Constitution was still being drafted.

·         Assurance would be provided in the form of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Audit Committee.

·         The political balance of the CCA would be a reflection of the political balance of the constituent authorities.

·         The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee would not be a member of the same political party as their Lead Member.

·         Both the Overview and Scrutiny and Audit Committee’s would include at least two members of each constituent authority and there would be District Council representatives on both committees.

·         The Audit Committee would include an independent member.

·         The consultation that was being run to establish the Devon and Torbay CCA was open until 24 March 2024.

·         A submission to Government would be made in April with the Secretary of State seeking Parliamentary approval during May.

·         A letter from the Secretary of State to the two Councils seeking consent to the Statutory Instrument would be expected in June.

·         The Statutory Instrument would be laid in Parliament in July this would take 6-8 weeks.

·         If legislative process was approved the regulation order would be signed creating the CCA expected in October.

·         More information can be found at www.devontorbaydeal.org.uk

The Committee debated the issues and concerns they had with the proposal.  The Chief Executive summarised the points that the Committee raised as follows:

·         On the whole members agreed in principle with the devolution offer and the idea of more local powers to make decisions.

·         There were concerns around the democratic deficit.

·         Concerns around the District councils not being involved in heavy decisions – around major investment projects as an example.

·         A Member appointed to the Board by Devon County Council should be a representative for the North Devon area.

·         Greater clarity around what a reserved decision was for example which decisions District Councils would not be a part of.

·         Transport functions it was felt District Councils should be involved in those in some way.

·         Major investment decisions it was felt District Councils should be involved in the making of them somehow.

·         Delivery of projects at a local level.

·         Skills delivery.

·         The use of the Devon Housing Task force for the delivery of housing.

·         Ensuring the relationship District Council already has with Homes England wasn’t damaged by having another layer of Council.

·         The Pipeline of projects referred to in paragraph 69; “…combining their skills and capacity to reduce the barriers to affordable housing delivery, regeneration and wider housing growth through the development of a shared development pipeline for the region.”, of the document – District Councils should  be involved around this pipeline of projects.

·         Mention of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Business support being delivered locally.

·         A strong accountability process was very important with District members involved in that.

RESOLVED that the report be noted and that the Council were in principle in agreement with the formation of a CCA.  To give the Chief Executive delegated power to formulate the response to be shared with the Leader and the three party leaders.