Like the song: there are more questions than answers … but one thread joins the various models: some people are going to make a lot of money out of them and we end up with a totally different model of providing public services than hitherto that the public has had no say on.
Their only input will be to vote for the mega-Mayors of the new devolved areas.
https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/laird-ryan/devolution-or-just-doing-osbornes-bidding
Population of Devon and Somerset combined: approx 2 million
Population of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire combined: approx 2 million
Number of extra homes Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire LEP says they need:
77,000
Number of extra homes Devon and Somerset says they need:
179,000
Explain.
“… Staffordshire MPs Jeremy Lefroy, Gavin Williamson and Karen Brady have called for the creation of a new Mercian combined authority, which would see the county join forces with Shropshire district, as well as Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Telford & Wrekin, which last week announced it would be joining the proposed West Midlands Combined Authority, would not be included under the plans.
The moves have caused some bemusement among those areas that have been linked to Shropshire.
Civic leaders in the two East Midland counties said they had received no approach from either Shropshire or Staffordshire councils, and would not be drawn on whether they would support such a move.”
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/10/12/special-feature-devolution-remains-a-puzzle/
“At a full council meeting, South Derbyshire District Council leader Bob Wheeler proposed to reject the agreement and this was backed by the members.
He said: “Our concerns include how appropriate an elected mayor would be for an area as diverse as Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, as well as the cost and impact the deal would have on the other authorities concerned.
“We simply don’t know in detail what the powers of an elected mayor or combined authority would be. We can’t recommend getting on a bus when we don’t know what the fare is and we don’t know where it’s going.”
Why?
Because the two deals are very spookily similar! Read the press puff job for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and it could almost have been written by the same hand. No, no, no – surely not … but they are SO similar … no, no ….
The press release:
http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/devolution
Here are two snippets almost identical in tone and (localised) content to the Devon and Somerset bid:
“The deal sets out ten key benefits devolution would deliver for the rD2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (promoting economic growth in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire) is a partner in the bid.
What could the Devo Deal deliver, if successful?
• 55,000 new jobs by 2023
• Improved quality and quantity of homes across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire – delivering 77,000 affordable new homes
• Better connected towns and cities through the creation of combined transport authorities covering Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
• Improved frequency, integration and joint ticketing arrangements on public transport through London-style powers, as well as directly influencing improvements to motorways and major trunk roads in the area
• Increased potential for East Midlands Airport, the second busiest freight terminal in the country after Heathrow, to increase international trade and passenger transport
• More and better quality apprenticeships, tackling the root causes of long-term unemployment, and further reduce rates of young people not in education or employment
• Greater control over further education to ensure all local learners and employers have access to the right, high-quality further education offer, matching the skills of citizens with those demanded by the employer.
• Speeded up planning process and making it more flexible to respond to the different needs of the local areas
• A smart infrastructure that future-proofs growth and prosperity with universal access to 4G and beyond, removing the digital divide facing those in vulnerable and rural communitiesesidents and businesses of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire:
55,000 new private sector jobs
77,000 extra homes
An Investment Fund over 30 years to provide infrastructure such as roads and bridges
Adult skills provision that better meets the needs of businesses
A joint transport fund to spend on key transport improvements
A better co-ordinated public transport system with ‘Oyster’ style smart ticketing
More responsive and co-ordinated business support for growth
The creation of substantially more apprenticeship opportunities
More people entering employment through better targeted local programmes
Journey times to London of less than 90 minutes by train
19 councils across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire together with business leaders from the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership which covers the two counties, are seeking to create a single Combined Authority for the region by March 2016 – the first of its kind featuring district, borough, city and county councils.”
and another:
D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (promoting economic growth in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire) is a partner in the bid.
What could the Devo Deal deliver, if successful?
• 55,000 new jobs by 2023
• Improved quality and quantity of homes across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire – delivering 77,000 affordable new homes
• Better connected towns and cities through the creation of combined transport authorities covering Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire
• Improved frequency, integration and joint ticketing arrangements on public transport through London-style powers, as well as directly influencing improvements to motorways and major trunk roads in the area
• Increased potential for East Midlands Airport, the second busiest freight terminal in the country after Heathrow, to increase international trade and passenger transport
• More and better quality apprenticeships, tackling the root causes of long-term unemployment, and further reduce rates of young people not in education or employment
• Greater control over further education to ensure all local learners and employers have access to the right, high-quality further education offer, matching the skills of citizens with those demanded by the employer.
• Speeded up planning process and making it more flexible to respond to the different needs of the local areas
• A smart infrastructure that future-proofs growth and prosperity with universal access to 4G and beyond, removing the digital divide facing those in vulnerable and rural communities”
This is the list as provided by East Devon District Council – it appears to have been published upside-down – just an oversight, of course:
“The Heart of the South West devolution partners are:
• Somerset County Council
• Somerset’s district and borough councils: Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset, Taunton Deane and West Somerset
• Devon County Council
• Devon’s district and borough councils: East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon
• Plymouth City Council
• Torbay Council
• Exeter City Council
• Exmoor National Park
• Dartmoor National Park
• Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group
• Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group
• South Devon and Torbay Clinical Commissioning Group
Heart of the South West LEP”
East Devon Watch 