So that’s that – either Devon will be ruled by a Somerset super-mayor, or Somerset will be ruled by a Devon super-mayor or BOTH will be ruled by a super-dodgy-business-person with vested interests in one or both counties!
Speaking to the County Councils Network on Monday, the local government secretary said:
“… he was open to reorganisation proposals, such as that put forward by Buckinghamshire County Council to abolish its districts and form a county unitary.
This proposal was “exactly the kind of proactive, locally driven thinking I want to see”, he said.
While not committing commit himself on Buckinghamshire’s plan, he said: “Unitary status can be a great model…but I’m not for one moment saying it’s for everyone. This is not compulsory. It’s not going to be imposed.
However, he dashed hopes that he would allow devolution in county areas without the creation of elected mayoralties.
Former chancellor George Osborne had insisted on mayors as a condition of devolution deals but after his departure some county leaders hoped to change this policy.
Javid told the CCN: “I get that directly elected mayors aren’t universally popular within local government. And I know that’s especially true of the counties.”
He recognised arguments that counties were too large for one person to control but said: “I’m not going to devolve significant new powers and more taxpayers’ money without a corresponding increase in local accountability.”
Mayoralties would be “a real red line for me when it comes to negotiating devolution deals”, he added.”
East Devon Watch 
If Javid wants accountability, how come he is letting devolution plans be developed by a totally unelected LEP in secret from both local residents and councillors? That’s not exactly transparent or accountable.
No – if Javid wants accountability he needs to get his own house in order and start by making the Devolution process transparent and accountable.
Because a super-mayor is not going to be very accountable to the electorate when he inherits a devolution plan that the electorate has had no say in developing and he has no choice but to accept it.
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