The news of delays to the mayoral elections for Essex, Hampshire and other areas has rightly led to a few raised eyebrows within local government. But as well as having an impact in the directly effected areas, the implications of these actions should be on the radar of all other areas currently in the devolution process and heading towards a combined authority.
It was always an ambitious agenda for the new Labour government to attempt full local government reorganisation (LGR) and blanket coverage of mayors and mayoral strategic authorities (MSAs) within their first term. Creating ‘devolution priority places’ (DPPs) suggested they realised this, and it almost became inescapable when there was then a change of team at MHCLG, however the narrative at the moment suggests everything is on course… but is it?
Because whilst it sounds rational to put LGR in the DPP places before moving to the mayoral elections (and we’ll ignore the whispers about election outcomes), what it does do is slow down the MSA process. Yes, geography will be smoother by 2028, but let’s not forget that these are the ‘easier’ places. There may be competing LGR proposals, but the DPP are the ones where the leading politicians in general said they wanted devolution. So if they need an extra two years to get themselves sorted, then you have to wonder about government expectations for the areas where maybe sub regional relationship aren’t so cordial?
And of course, whilst LGR and Devolution are unlikely to be the topic over many dinner tables this Christmas, it is the unsuspecting public who have to wait just a bit longer to see the benefits of this policy. Or alternatively, if you’re not in an area with a mayor/MSA or in the DPP programme, then you get to watch other places continue to grow their profile and influence, whilst you sit and watch, wondering when you will get to score big on infrastructure investment, improved public transport and support for your area’s businesses.
If economic growth is such a big priority for the government, this week’s decision should lead us all to be asking what role our places play in that, and how long can we realistically wait for it to happen?
