Council leaders in the Midlands and West of England have begun responding to a call from ministers to reveal their devolution plans.
After the Government urged councils to propose strategic authorities to coincide with a consultation on spatial development, leaders in Worcestershire backed a strategic authority with Herefordshire and possibly other counties.
A letter signed by the leaders of Worcestershire CC and its six district councils called for a foundation strategic authority covering Worcestershire and neighbouring areas to be in place by May 2027, adding: ‘The futures of Herefordshire and Worcestershire are inextricably linked.'
The proposal has been backed by Herefordshire, but a possible three counties solution with Gloucestershire was dealt a blow when its councils told the Government they were looking the other way down the M5.
A letter from the leaders of Gloucestershire CC and most of its districts, sent to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) last week, proposed a countywide strategic authority in the short term, with the aim of joining the West of England Combined Authority later.
The letter pointed out Gloucestershire was already part of South West regional bodies for health, policing and post-16 education.
Stroud DC chief executive Kathy O'Leary told The MJ that people in Gloucestershire generally viewed themselves as part of South West England, adding: ‘You would have a hard job explaining to anybody in the county why they are suddenly part of the Midlands.'
Worcester City Council's Labour leader Lynn Denham said councils in Worcestershire had no wish to be absorbed into the West Midlands Combined Authority or be governed by its Labour mayor.
Cllr Denham said: ‘We are the southern bit of the West Midlands. Gloucestershire is in the South West, but it's only just down the road from us.'
Bromsgrove DC leader Karen May said she would prefer Worcestershire to team up with Warwickshire as its economy depended on links with the West Midlands.
In its consultation on spatial development strategies (SDS), which closed last week, MHCLG challenged 11 areas to come up with ‘appropriate geographies', viewed as paving the way for strategic authorities.
In its response, Shropshire Council stressed its connections to Telford & Wrekin and the wider West Midlands, particularly along the M54 corridor. It proposed that the council should initially work with Telford & Wrekin Council over spatial development, ahead of strengthening links to the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Neither Telford & Wrekin nor Warwickshire CC have published their responses to the SDS consultation or indicated their preferred strategic authority.
