To consider the findings of the scrutiny task and finish group: devolution and to recommend the report to the executive for consideration.

The Committee considered the findings of the task and finish group: devolution and was invited to recommend the report to the executive for consideration.

The report noted that the task and finish group’s report had almost been finalised when the general election had been called for June 2017.  It had therefore been decided to put the report on hold subject to clarification of government thinking.  One of the considerations was the council’s application for non-constituent membership of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). The report noted that it was now understood that a new establishment order, which would be required if Herefordshire council were to be admitted as a non-constituent member was not expected to be submitted by the WMCA in the next 4 years.  It was, however, considered that there were recommendations in the group’s report that could nonetheless be worth pursuing during this period.

The Programme director – housing and growth presented the report.  He commented that the position on devolution was evolving and it was considered that there would be value in maintaining a watching brief.  Since the election it appeared that with the demands of Brexit there had been reduced capacity within government to make progress on other areas so there were no significant updates to be made to the report.  It remained the case that the council needed to engage with and seek to inform and influence regional strategies.

Clarification was sought on the references in the report to the suggested willingness on the part of government to look at other forms of governance, to the prospect that the Marches LEP would not face merger, and to whether the population threshold for forming a combined authority had been increased.  In particular, noting that the authority had more in common with rural authorities than the mainly metropolitan authorities forming the WMCA, it was proposed that the council should explore the possibility of forming connections with non-contiguous areas with shared values and interests.

RESOLVED:

That      (a)     the findings of the task and finish group report: devolution be approved for submission to the executive with the addition of reference to exploring the possibility of forming connections with non-contiguous areas with shared values and interests; and

              (b)     the Committee be advised of the executive’s response.