Decision details

The Director of Strategy provided members with an update on the progress of the WMCA Devolution deal and Combined Authority’s approach to the wider devolution agenda. The overall ambition for WMCA was to move away from a Devolution process which was defined by events, particularly fiscal, moving more towards a process in which engagement was much more constructive, seamless and collaborative, allowing for discussions with Government on how to work together better to achieve ambitions in the region.

Councillor Stephen Simkins sought assurances that members of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee would have an input into the next devolution deal, and the Chair proposed that the Director of Strategy actively engaged with the chairs committee’s of the working groups.

The committee considered that it was vitally important to be a part of the process, to provide an input and to ensure that clear accountability was visible, and also that input from the committee was facilitated in a timely, positive and constructive manner.

Councillor Josh Jones believed that a system should be in place whereby essential decisions required sign off by relevant Chairs and Portfolio Leads. The committee asked for assurance that they would have an input into the review the WMCA of Governance and Constitution.

The Director of Strategy highlighted that, in terms of the spending review taking place in autumn next year, WMCA were forward planning and believes that, as plans developed there were multiple opportunities for the committee to be engaged in the process before formal conversations start with Government.

It was recommended to the WMCA Board:

(1)  That the comments made by Committee to be noted.