A change in local government could be on the agenda for the two Cheshire local authorities and Warrington, following Lancashire’s decision to agree to a combined authority with an elected mayor.
Bob Barr
The three Councils had been discussing a devolution deal with central government before Brexit, the General Election and the current crisis.
Cllr Bob Barr, Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Warrington Borough Council commented, “The announcement that all fifteen local authorities in Lancashire have agreed to form a Combined Authority with an elected mayor, puts Cheshire and Warrington under pressure to decide if this is the way they want to go.
“The devolution dividend promised by the government to Lancashire adds up to £30 million pounds a year for 30 years according to the BBC. When the Cheshire and Warrington deal was being discussed, officers were concerned to establish the ‘size of the prize’ for agreeing to the government’s preferred model of a Combined Authority with an elected Executive Mayor for the whole area. This would bring us into line with Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire, but Warrington would lose some autonomy.
“Liberal Democrats already have successful elected Mayors running Watford and Bedford. If pushed towards accepting an Elected Mayor, we would prefer it to be for Warrington alone. However, rather than winning a ‘prize’ for doing what the government want, we would be at risk of a financial penalty and loss of powers if we did not comply.
“It is quite wrong for the government to pressurise local government while the country is distracted by the coronavirus crisis. However, it is important that the people of Warrington should be told where the devolution discussions are up to, what the government would want out of devolution and what, if anything, leaders in Warrington are proposing.”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-53026998
