All three Cheshire councils have expressed their support for the Government's plans to transfer more power from Westminster to England's regions.
The Government published its English Devolution White Paper on Monday, 16th December, detailing plans to extend devolution to all parts of England, provide additional powers for mayors and replace the the two-tier local government with unitary authorities.
Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner said: "Devolution is about delivering fundamental change at every level. It's about giving local leaders the tools – and the trust – they need to forge their areas' futures.
"It's about raising living standards, improving public services and building the homes we so desperately need – all key aspects of our Plan for Change. It cuts across every aspect of government."
A devolution deal would see Cheshire East, Warrington, and Cheshire West and Chester councils united to create a new combined authority, which is expected to be called Cheshire and Warrington.
Following the government's White Paper on devolution, the following joint statement has been issued from leaders of the region's three councils: Cllr Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council; Cllr Hans Mundry, Leader of Warrington Borough Council; and the Leader and Deputy Leader of Cheshire East Council, Cllr Nick Mannion and Cllr Michael Gorman.
"We welcome the new English Devolution White Paper which demonstrates the Government's commitment to devolving powers away from London to regions like Cheshire & Warrington.
"Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner, said she recognises that we, as local leaders, know our regions best and set out how devolution would provide new powers and money to invest in the things that are important to our residents, communities and businesses.
"It's clear that devolution is going to become the default way of working across a range of government policy areas, and that it would bring significant power and funding to the Cheshire & Warrington region. The White Paper provides us with the foundation for more detailed conversations with government about what devolution could look like for us.
"We're ambitious for our region. Devolution would allow us to make more decisions here in Cheshire & Warrington, rather than decisions about our region and its almost 1 million residents being made in London.
"We're a successful region but we also face pressure in key areas that the government wants to devolve to regions, such as transport, skills and housing.
"Devolution would allow us to focus on what is most important to us. We need affordable and convenient transport for residents in our rural areas and our towns, large and small; affordable homes in the right places, close to employment and services, and a workforce with the skills our businesses need.
"The White Paper sets out how devolution is about national government transferring powers and resources away from London and into regions. It's not about merging councils. Individual councils would retain their current responsibilities and continue to provide services for local people.
"Devolution could offer us many opportunities - and it has to be right for our region, our residents, communities and businesses. We will create opportunities for people living and working in Cheshire & Warrington to have their say through a range of consultation and engagement events that will be used to help inform the devolution agreement."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Nor is Cheshire West or Warrington. All three councils will continue to provide all the services they currently do and they will be remain totally separate from each other.
Instead, this new devolved authority will oversee strategic transport and economic activity for the combined area. Some areas of the country (eg Manchester and Liverpool) already have these devolved powers but most places do not. The previous conservative government started to discuss it for Cheshire & Warrington and the new Labour government is now imposing them on all areas of England.
Currently, large strategic projects are controlled by Whitehall. This move will see their powers and funding transfer to the new regional bodies. This should improve local decision making and reduce the financial risk that councils experience when they run large infrastructure projects. On the flip side, the government only has to deal with 40 regional bodies and not the 400 local councils we currently have.
Areas that still have two councils will be forced to become one authority. However, we have already gone through that process when Cheshire East replaced Cheshire County Council and Macclesfield Borough Council. Therefore, this devolution change is not as dramatic for us as it will be for others.
There is also some talk of also transferring powers (and the funding for them) from Cheshire East down to town councils. But only if the towns want them though. This is being referred to as "double devolution" and apart from this, Wilmslow Town Council will be unaffected.
This and the exact powers of our new regional body, how much money it will get and who decides how it is spent is yet to be decided. When this is clearer, then you will be informed of the details. At the moment though, there is nothing concrete to report.
Finally, you will be able to vote on who runs this new body though, just as you do for the Police & Crime Commissioner for our region. However, there is unlikely to be a referendum on whether you want all this change or not as the government has already decided it is happening for the whole of England.
Best regards
Mark
Cllr Mark Goldsmith - Residents of Wilmslow