At an extraordinary meeting held tonight, North Somerset councillors voted overwhelmingly against the devolution deal which would see the four local authorities – Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset, come together as a combined authority under an elected ‘Metro Mayor.’

North Somerset leaders had previously said they were against the deal, arguing the new money would do nothing for the area.

They fear Government funding allocated to the region as part of the devolution deal would be sucked away by Bristol, leaving the area they represent, which includes Portishead, Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare, as the poor relation.

Council leader Nigel Ashton said a combined authority and elected mayor was ‘unwanted’ and ‘unnecessary.’

Mr Ashton said: “North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North Somerset are some of the best performing councils in the country.

“I wonder why anyone would want to get rid of them?

“We have an excellent relationship with our councils and this will continue.

“Local residents are overwhelmingly against a centralised mayor. Eighty five per cent of responses from residents and town and parish councils were against the devolution proposal.

“People do not want another level of government which could lead to North Somerset becoming a poor relation to Bristol.

“It didn’t work when it was Avon, Now it would be worse

” I love Bristol but it has different priorities to North Somerset.

“If the deal goes through there are no guarantees that North Somerset will get any significant money.

“All future power and resources will be devolved to an elected mayor.”

Councillors said that North Somerset already had excellent relationships with other councils and local businesses.

Many said that if the current arrangements were not broken, why fix them.