Five Gloucestershire MPs have signed a joint letter outlining their own vision for devolution in Gloucestershire. The three Labour and two Liberal Democrats have proposed two unitary authorities for Gloucestershire – one in the west and one in the east.
They suggest West Gloucestershire would combine the Forest of Dean, Gloucester and Stroud. East Gloucestershire would include Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and the Cotswolds.
The letter to Jim McMahon, Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government), is signed by Labour’s Matt Bishop MP (Forest of Dean); Dr Simon Opher MP (Stroud) and Alex McIntyre MP (Gloucester) and Lib Dems Dr Roz Savage MP (South Cotswolds) and Max Wilkinson MP (Cheltenham).
The government is looking at creating unitaries with a population of at least 500,000 and combined authorities areas with a directly elected mayor representing areas with around 1.5 million residents. There has been suggestions this could see the creation of a Three Counties combined authority with Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire sharing a metro mayor – with district councils being merged into Gloucestershire County Council.
The proposals could see county council elections this year postponed and the end for Gloucester City Council, Forest of Dean District Council, Stroud District Council, Cheltenham Borough Council, Tewkesbury Borough Council and Cotswold District Council. The Government says their proposals would give more powers to local areas.
The letter in full:
The government’s plans to bring devolution to communities throughout the country has brought considerable debate to our county of Gloucestershire. We are writing to confirm our support for the government’s devolution plans and outline our proposed way forward, to ensure these plans deliver for the people of Gloucestershire.
Gloucestershire is currently served by a two-tier system dating back to 1974. However, proposals for a single unitary authority would see the county enter the top ten largest unitary authorities in the country. Whilst we are supportive of the government’s devolution plan, we feel that an authority of this size would not best serve the people of Gloucestershire.
We are instead proposing that Gloucestershire would be best served by the creation of two unitary authorities, one in the west of the county and one in the east of the county. West Gloucestershire would combine the Forest of Dean, Gloucester and Stroud along the River Severn, whilst East
Gloucestershire would combine Cheltenham, Tewkesbury and the Cotswolds, aligned to the towns and rural areas of the east side of the county.
This proposal would ensure the county receives the considerable benefits of devolution and the move to unitary authorities, whilst retaining councils that work for and crucially make sense to local people.
We are urging you to consider this approach to unitary status in Gloucestershire, an approach that will ensure devolution’s success in our county for the benefit of its people.
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