Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 19
19
The devolution framework should clarify the relationship of local authorities with combined authorities.
Recommendation
The devolution framework should clarify the relationship of local authorities with combined authorities. As we have noted devolution is not just about increasing the powers of combined authorities, but enhancing the powers of local government as a whole. The Government should continue to ensure Local Enterprise Partnerships 66 Progress on devolution in England and combined authorities have the same boundaries and are effectively integrated. We reiterate our predecessor committee’s calling in 2017 for scrutiny committees from local and combined authorities to monitor the effectiveness of Local Enterprise Partnerships. The Government should support organisations such as the Northern Powerhouse to foster cooperation, without imposing any further formal layers of government. (Paragraph 140) Scrutiny in combined authorities
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The devolution framework places a strong emphasis on joint working between local authorities across sensible and coherent economic geographies. Level 2 of the devolution framework is available to single local government institutions without a directly elected leader, such as Combined Authorities or a single upper tier local authority covering the whole county area with the strong leader and cabinet model. The Level 1 offer is for devolution to authorities with looser joint working arrangements, such as the joint committee model. Government both encourages and would like to see cooperative working between all local authorities in an area where possible. This Government would like to retain the key strengths of Local Enterprise Partnerships and better integrate their services and business voice with our plans for devolution. Government will therefore be including Local Enterprise Partnerships and their business boards as part of Level 2 of our devolution framework, so that they can integrate into mayoral combined authorities and county deals. Government’s ambition is to achieve devolution everywhere, fully integrating the business voice of Local Enterprise Partnerships and their services into devolved structures. Where a devolution deal already exists, Government will engage with them on the Local Enterprise Partnerships transition. Where a devolution deal does not yet exist, Government will continue to support Local Enterprise Partnerships to play their role in supporting the local economy. Where devolution deals cover part of a Local Enterprise Partnership, Government will look at it on a case-by-case basis. The Levelling Up White Paper reiterated Government’s support for pan-regional partnerships like the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine, local private sector initiatives, and existing City