Devolution Diaries: The Road to Devolution: Hertfordshire and the South Midlands
With the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme in full swing much of the talk has naturally centred around which areas have made it onto the initial list. However, as the first wave of devolution deals are rolled out it is worth taking a closer look at why some areas – including Hertfordshire and the combined region of Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes – missed out and where the opportunities lie moving forward.
An opportunity missed for BLMK?
Milton Keynes, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton (“BLMK”) had a chance to secure a place in the Government’s Devolution Priority Programme under a new Mayoral Strategic Authority. Yet, their decision to press ahead without Northamptonshire – despite knowing it would drop their combined population below the 1.5 million threshold required for a mayoral deal – has raised eyebrows. Particularly given the historic precedent of the six south midlands authorities working together.
Conservatives in Milton Keynes have criticised the move, arguing it undermines the longstanding collaboration between South Midlands authorities. More broadly, it highlights how deeply political the devolution process has become.
The collapse of the BLMK bid represents a significant missed opportunity for investment and growth, particularly in the light of the Government’s ambitions for the resurrection of the Oxford-Cambridge corridor as a major area for economic growth – touted by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as “Europe’s Silicon Valley.” While Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has said the BLMK proposals needed more work, the decision exposes somewhat of a contradiction with one arm of government championing economic growth along the corridor, while another blocks the very mechanism that could have enabled it.
That said, this is unlikely to be the end of the road for BLMK’s devolution ambitions. Local authorities will almost certainly regroup and refine their proposals ahead of the next round. Whether Westminster will be more receptive next time, however, remains to be seen.
Meanwhile in Hertfordshire…
Quite the contrast over in Hertfordshire where the devolution debate has been heating up in recent months. Political divisions between the County and the Districts derailed any immediate plans to join the Priority Programme.
The Conservative-led Hertfordshire County Council has been pushing for a single unitary authority covering 1.2million people however, this ambition hit a roadblock when leaders of the ten districts (which covers Labour, Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Green council leaders) unanimously opposed the idea. The stalemate means plans will now need to go back to the drawing board.
Whilst Hertfordshire will almost certainly become part of a devolution deal in the coming years, it will not be amongst the first tranche. County Council elections will go ahead as planned in May, and the political landscape could be about to change. Currently, it is expected the Liberal Democrats will make significant gains on 1 May, potentially bringing County leadership in line with the Districts – a shift which may bring about a more cooperative approach to devolution.
Despite exclusion from the Priority Programme, Hertfordshire will still need to submit reorganisation proposals in 2025 with interim plans to be put forward by the end of March. However, with the Government’s focus on Priority areas it is likely Hertfordshire will find itself some way down the queue.
The question is now whether a potential change in County leadership will lead to a devolution strategy local leaders can support.
Want to find out more? Cratus Group can help navigate the political uncertainty around devolution in the Home Counties and beyond, if you have any questions do get in touch.
