Devolution deadline day for Bedfordshire councils - but agreement still uncertain
A government deadline expires today (Monday, October 26) for councils across Bedfordshire and in MK to secure a £186m annual investment fund, which could trigger a £52bn economic transition for the BLMK footprint.
Unlocking the finance package can potentially return the area to its pre-pandemic growth rates by 2035, according to the Labour group leaders of the region’s four authorities.
Two of the four, Luton Borough Council and Milton Keynes City Council, are anxious to proceed, while Bedford Borough Council and Central Bedfordshire Council remain to be convinced.
A BLMK strategic authority would absorb powers transferred from central government, while giving local leaders and a potential directly-elected Mayor greater influence over decisions previously handled in Whitehall.
Writing jointly in support of a BLMK-wide approach, the four Labour group leaders described it as “a significant opportunity to strengthen local decision-making, secure investment and to deliver lasting benefits for the communities we represent”.
They explained in a letter to the government: “Our four areas share strong economic, transport and public service connections.
“We believe working together through a strategic regional arrangement would enable us to take a more coordinated approach to economic development, skills, connectivity and public service reform.
“It would also give us greater influence over the decisions that affect our residents, employers and local economies. The financial and economic potential is considerable.
“The analysis undertaken by Metro Dynamics indicates that a BLMK devolution framework could generate about £186m annually in funding for the region, and a return to pre-pandemic levels of economic growth could create an additional £52bn in economic value by 2035.
“These are opportunities that deserve serious and timely consideration, particularly given the pressures facing local government and the need to support inclusive, sustainable growth.
“We recognise the importance of the government’s confirmation that BLMK is the only devolution geography it’s currently prepared to take forward for our area.
“We understand that different geographical arrangements may be proposed and that individual authorities will have their own perspectives and priorities. But pursuing an alternative configuration risks jeopardising the immediate opportunity before us.
“There can be no certainty that a comparable offer of powers, investment and institutional support will be available if the current opportunity is lost.”
CBC Independent Aspley and Woburn councillor John Baker attended a meeting called by MK City Council to share the outcomes of a devolution debate held by Central Beds in its council chamber.
MK Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors voted against allowing more time, restricting discussion to 15 minutes, despite a special meeting intended to allow plenty of time for debate, he said on social media.
“I supported the principle of a regional authority capable of attracting substantial government funding, arguing that Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes alone could hardly compete with Manchester, Birmingham or London.
“I also highlighted a desire of CBC councillors for a government-funded public vote on any new arrangement.MK City Council’s leader twice described further debate as “irrelevant”.
Conservative Bedford Mayor Tom Wootton favours joining BLMK up with Northamptonshire, while the leader of West Northamptonshire Council has written to the Devolution Minister Jim McMahon MP, who stated a preference for “ruling out a South Midlands arrangement involving West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire to pursue a BLMK model”.
Luton town ambassador Tamar Lovindeer-Robinson, of TBM Consulting, has warned: “The hesitation by Bedford (Borough) and Central Bedfordshire threatens to bankrupt our region’s future.”