Government is being true to its word in accelerating the rollout of devolution and a consistent framework for Local Government across England. It looks very much like every area will have a regional Mayor and a single unitary council by the end of the Parliament, with the first new elections under this plan scheduled in for 2026.
But can both of these things sit together? Is it even possible to get so much done in such a short time? The ambition is laudable, but is it realistic?
These are questions we asked ourselves in devolution discussions at the County Council Network conference in the Autumn, when proposals were beginning to emerge. Leaders and senior Execs from County and Unitary authorities all across the country were digging through the announcements, with equal parts excitement and concern at what they saw.
Many have been waiting for someone to drive through Council reorganisation for a long time. It’s been discussed for a decade or more but previous Ministers have never been prepared to force the change against a backdrop of unhappy District Councils in particular. So for many, it’s about time we got on with it. However, there were words of caution from those who have been through these changes recently.
One Leader from a Council that recently unitarized expressed his frustration at the process, and advised people not to get too excited yet about the potential positive outcomes, which would take years of wading through all sorts of challenges to reach (if ever).
Having been through the recent development of the East Midlands Combined Authority, as a County Council Leader myself at that time, I’m a huge advocate of the devolution agenda and what it can offer. But my contribution to this debate, and words of caution, were simply to ask where the staffing resource is going to come from to deliver all of this at once.
I know that my senior Officers, and those from other Councils involved in the East Midlands, probably added an extra 30% or more to their workload over several years to get us from Devo Deal to having a Combined Authority in place. I know that it inevitably gave them less time to focus on the day job, and demanded a huge amount of their attention. I know it cost millions to put together. We did it, and I think did it well, but it was not easy and it demanded that those Officers step up and put in a huge amount of additional work.
I’m also a huge advocate of Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). I am one of those who has called for it, having seen the frustration first hand of having Planning processes that don’t speak to the teams who deliver the roads or schools. Social Care services that can’t access social housing to deliver care. Seven different bin collection regimes all with different rules and costs, that ultimately all end up at the same recycling centre under the same central contract anyway. None of that makes sense, so let’s change it. But the reports from those in places like Somerset and North Yorkshire where this has happened recently sound very similar to my experience of devolution. ‘A huge piece of work… complex… demanding… a lack of capacity’.
As the Institute for Government reported last week, ‘‘Local government reorganisation is a complex and time-consuming process, and adding devolution plans increases the difficulty level further. Creating new unitary authorities and combined authorities while continuing to provide public services in the face of financial pressures will be challenging for a sector that has been struggling with workforce shortfalls and financial pressures.’’
So, yes to devolution. Yes to LGR. And anyway, they’re happening, like it or not. But can these things really be done at this pace and at the same time? Does it inevitably mean Councils have to take their eye off the ball on public services? Will they become even more stretched and less able to support people and projects, possibly for years, before we reach the Holy Land of ‘simpler, more efficient structures’? The East Midlands Devo process took two and a half to three years from inception to having a Combined Authority with a Mayor. Can these fast track areas really do it in 12 months AND restructure themselves at the same time?
As Councils seek to navigate all of this, businesses and other stakeholders will be looking to navigate it too. To understand the changes, the emerging strategies, and how to keep getting things done, or built, and delivered despite these huge pressures on resources. Cavendish is following this work closely, and can help you to keep on top of what’s happening in your area. Don’t hesitate to shout, if we can help.
