Devolution

At the Stroud LSP meeting in June 2016, David Hagg recapped on Gloucestershire's devolution bid, which was submitted to Ministers September 2015.

Since then, it has become clear that the Government wants elected Mayors - i.e. to talk with an elected individual representative.

Currently, 10 devolution deals have been agreed, transferring powers, funding and accountability for policies previously undertaken by Central Government to local areas in England.

Further points discussed included:

• The Cotswold and West Oxfordshire bid for independence – 'Coxit' – has fallen through. The Gloucestershire bid, which initially included Cotswold DC, will therefore be re-visited
• Smaller-scale devolution deals are likely to have much less funding
• It is expected that the level of public funding will continue to be reduced whatever happens with any devolution deal
• Revenue Support Grants will disappear altogether by 2018 and by 2020 the uniform national business rate (NNDR) will be abolished. These changes will have major implications for local authorities
• Community sustainability is very important but so is the need to work with partners outside of Gloucestershire to promote economic interests