Councils miss out on fast track devolution deal

Six councils have missed out on joining a fast track devolution programme.

Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner has announced "six new potential devolution areas" with a view to holding mayoral elections in May 2026.

West and North Northamptonshire Councils had submitted bids for a South Midlands Combined Authority, whilst Milton Keynes City Council teamed up with Bedford and Luton to enter a joint expression of interest, but all have been unsuccessful.

The Labour MP for Milton Keynes North Chris Curtis, speaking in the House of Commons, called on Rayner to look again at whether the "BLMK (Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes) offer can move forward so that we can get the deal in place by 2026."

Curtis said "the government department has put barriers in the way of achieving the devolution deal that we want and we know is needed for our region".

In response Rayner said "the proposals needed more development...but we will work to achieve devolution across the whole of England."

Both West and North Northamptonshire Councils have said they will continue to work with government and partners towards devolution.

Conservative leader of West Northamptonshire Council Adam Brown said he was "bitterly disappointed" at not being successful but was "eager to work with partners in the other South Midlands Councils to form the consensus the Government needs from us".

Jason Smithers, Conservative leader of North Northamptonshire Council, added: "A devolution deal has the ability to deliver enormous economic benefits to our area for decades to come and we are committed to working with Government and local authority partners to make this a reality."

Independently run Central Bedfordshire Council had submitted a separate letter supporting devolution, but at the time said it was "open to working with all interested local authorities, to explore options".

Leader Adam Zerny said: "The government is clear, devolution will happen. We will watch with interest as these proposals are implemented elsewhere to understand the impact."

The Labour leader of Milton Keynes city council Pete Marland called the decision "very disappointing" but insisted the BLMK footprint was "the only combination of local authorities on which Milton Keynes expressed an interest or is willing to consider at present".

He added that "given recent announcements regarding the re-emergence of the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor and the pressing need for economic growth we believe not progressing with a BLMK Mayoral Strategic Authority as quickly as possible is a missed opportunity".

Hazel Simmons, the Labour leader of Luton Council, said the authority was "still keen to engage in a BLMK partnership" due to "our already excellent partnerships and connections and our long-standing joint health and care services".

The Conservative Mayor of Bedford Borough Council, Tom Wootton, added his authority was "disappointed" not to be part of the "priority devolution programme".

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