News / Politics
North Somerset begins formal process to join WECA
North Somerset Council has voted to begin the year-long formal process to join the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority despite fears it will see the return of the hated Avon County Council.
A bitter row dominated a recent council meeting where councillors voted to begin developing and consulting on a proposal for joining WECA.
Lib Dem council leader Mike Bell said that devolution, “whatever our views about it might be, is clearly the policy priority of both this government and the previous government”.
Bell said: “It is better for us to engage in this process and try and shape it to suit North Somerset and the needs and priorities of North Somerset rather than having it forced upon us.”
But the idea of once again joining with Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire has prompted concern from some long-serving councillors.
Clevedon independent councillor David Shopland said: “Having fought to destroy Avon Council and all that it stood for, I am not prepared to support in any way the forming of a Greater Bristol authority, for that is what is behind this.
Tory councillor for Portishead South, Peter Burden, warned it would be a Bristol-centric “tinpot little city region”.
Meanwhile, Caritas Charles (Portishead East, independent) said the mayoral model was “not real devolution” and would dilute local people’s voices.
Instead of more power for communities and people, he said “it feels like we are being asked to rubber stamp decisions that have already been made in London”.
Bridget Petty, a Green councillor for Backwell, said: “The proposals from the government to set everybody into strategic partnerships is not devolution and is not good for communities.
“However, I am pragmatic… if the money on the table is at WECA, then we are naive if we think that we can turn it down.”
Weston-super-Mare Town Hall is the headquarters of North Somerset Council – photo: North Somerset Council
North Somerset Council, at the time under Conservative control, declined to join WECA when it was set up in 2017.
Although it considered joining in 2020, it was blocked by Labour-run Bristol, with former mayor Marvin Rees saying that he supported the expansion of the combined authority to include North Somerset “but only when there is a clear financial offer that benefits Bristol and the West of England economy”.
It is set to cost North Somerset Council £290,000 to run the consultation and process to join WECA.
Charles said: “This is £300,000 from local coffers to implement something that the government wants, rather than something our residents have asked for.”
Bell said he had written twice to the government to ask it to cover the costs.
But despite the concerns, a significant majority of councillors voted to begin the process to join WECA, with only eight councillors voting against.
The process will see an eight-week consultation across North Somerset and the current members of WECA, another vote of North Somerset Council and parliamentary approval before the council can become a member.
Main photo: Martin Booth
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