Proposed Elected Mayor Role to Encompass Six Council Areas

A significant restructuring of local government could lead to the establishment of an elected mayor position responsible for six combined authorities spanning Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, and Milton Keynes, the BBC has learned. Under these proposals, the six unitary authorities – Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, West Northamptonshire, and North Northamptonshire – would potentially operate under the oversight of a single elected mayor. During an address to regional mayors and business leaders, Angela Rayner, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, unveiled an English Devolution White Paper. However, she did not provide specific information regarding the proposed alterations. The government stated that it has not yet presented detailed plans and intends to collaborate with local leaders. These government proposals seek to prioritize regional development and fulfill objectives such as constructing 1.5 million homes and stimulating economic growth. The restructuring of local government might lead to the abolition of 164 district councils across England. Labour suggests this could generate savings of £2 billion and result in the establishment of additional regional mayors. Luton, Central Bedfordshire, Bedford Borough, and Milton Keynes City Council are engaged in “extremely early days” discussions with their counterparts in Northamptonshire regarding the potential formation of a combined authority for the south Midlands region. Adam Zerny, the independent leader of Central Bedfordshire Council, commented: “My primary concern is whether devolution will be better for the residents we represent.” He added: “However there are still many questions unanswered and I look forward to meeting with the minister in the weeks to come, to ask these questions and seek the best deal we can for local residents.” Adam Brown, the Conservative leader of West Northamptonshire Council, stated: “No decision will be made until the new year. “I’m absolutely adamant that we are not going to make any decision without at the very least a full council meeting.”” The District Councils Network issued a caution regarding the potential hazard of eliminating localized decision-making processes. Local government minister Jim McMahon remarked: “If it’s a choice between £2bn in running cost of an organisation or £2bn on frontline neighbourhood services, I would say that most of the public want the investment in the front line.” The Local Government Association indicated that its members were “open to change” but emphasized that any reorganisation ought to be determined by councils and local areas, further stating that “devolution is not an end in itself”. The BBC reported in September that all six upper-tier local councils across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Buckinghamshire are engaged in discussions concerning prospective devolution agreements. Hertfordshire operates under a two-tier governance structure, and its Conservative-led authority stated that any devolution arrangement would encompass its district and borough councils, which collectively deliver services to over 1.2 million residents. Concurrently, the government indicated it was “minded to” agree a deal with the Buckinghamshire unitary authority, while Hertfordshire County Council has recently submitted its own “expression of interest”. Peter Taylor, the Mayor of Watford, commented: “Our priority must always be the best interests of our residents and local businesses. It is important that they have a say about the kind of local representation that serves them.” He questioned: “If the government creates large, centralised councils covering hundreds of thousands of people, will these deliver the local, responsive services our communities need?” He concluded: “Residents want councils that know their areas inside out… Larger councils may struggle to achieve this.” Richard Henry, leader of Labour-controlled Stevenage Borough Council, stated: “Following today’s announcement, we will need some time to take stock to see if the white paper can help us to achieve our goals to make Stevenage a place for everyone.” He added: “However, when there are challenges in our community through the cost-of-living crisis, it is vital we do not lose focus and continue to improve our town and achieve our ambitions for Stevenage.” For updates on Northamptonshire news, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external sites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.