Decision details

Councillor Bill Revans proposed the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Mandy Chilcott.

Having been duly proposed and seconded, the Council Resolved to:-

      i.         endorse the principle of Somerset Council working with partner local authorities (including Dorset, Wiltshire and BCP Councils) to secure a devolution settlement for the Wessex area and the ambition of the partners to be part of Government’s Devolution Programme, while remaining open to working with other authorities outside the Wessex area where it was demonstrably beneficial to Somerset.

     ii.         accept that Wessex had agreed to be available to Swindon Borough Council and North Somerset Council should they wish to join Wessex at a later stage.

    iii.         recognise that the geographies of authorities within the Devolution Programme were identified as areas for the creation of a new MSA.

   iv.         note the potential opportunities to promote economic growth, skills and prosperity alongside the financial benefits and strategic and operational implications for Somerset Council arising from a devolution settlement and the creation of a MSA.

(NB – recommendation (i) amended at the meeting)