Question
I welcome yesterday’s announcement of a mayoral strategic authority for the geography of Devon. However, as the Minister is aware, cities that currently have district councils are the drivers of economic growth, jobs growth, house building and much else in their areas, but are currently locked out of sitting as full constituent members of mayoral strategic authorities. As we are looking at potential legislation regarding cities, can the Minister give some commitment to looking at whether cities, in advance of local government reorganisation, could sit as full constituent members of MSAs?
Answer
First, I thank my hon. Friend for the representations he has made on behalf of Exeter over a long period of time on this, both regarding reorganisation and devolution. He raises a very fair point, which is that we were trying to align reorganisation to be in place before devolution, but the fact is that those are now going to run to slightly different timetables. It raises a question: if this is about an economic project—which it is—the city economic drivers and the travel-to-work areas ought to have a voice in that. I cannot make commitments today, other than to say that I acknowledge the point my hon. Friend makes and will take it away.
Verdict: AMBER (72/100)
The question asked the Government to commit to considering a fuller role for city councils in mayoral strategic authorities before reorganisation. The reply acknowledges that city economic drivers and travel-to-work areas should have a voice and explicitly commits to take the point away for consideration, which is what was requested. It stops short of firm commitments on the outcome, so a member of the public would know the issue will be considered but not what will be decided.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will the Minister commit to considering whether cities that currently have district councils could sit as full constituent members of mayoral strategic authorities in advance of local government reorganisation? | Addressed | Direct | The item asks for a commitment to consider giving city councils a fuller role in mayoral strategic authorities before reorganisation. The reply states that city economic drivers and travel-to-work areas should have a voice (statement 4), declines to make firm commitments (statement 5), and then explicitly commits to take the point away (statements 6–7), which is the consideration the item asked for. |