Council responds to proposal of a Strategic Mayoral Authority for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent

Councillor Jonathan Gullis said:

I have always been a supporter of genuine devolution and therefore welcome the Government’s announcement that it is in the final stages of agreeing a Strategic Mayoral Authority for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, which has the potential to bring decision-making closer to the communities we serve.
 

A Strategic Mayoral Authority for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent has the potential to be a real game-changer for our area, helping us attract investment, create better-paid jobs, improve skills and apprenticeships, and deliver a more joined-up public transport network.
 

However, the devil will be in the detail. For devolution to deliver on its promise, it must mean real powers and control being transferred from Westminster to Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, backed by the funding needed to make a meaningful difference to people's lives.
 

We cannot simply replace decision making in Whitehall with another layer of bureaucracy that lacks the powers or resources to deliver. Equally, we must avoid creating a two-tier mayoral system where established mayoral authorities enjoy greater powers, freedoms and funding, while newer authorities are left behind. Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent must be given the opportunity to compete on a level playing field with the likes of Greater Manchester and the West Midlands.
 

I have previously argued that a wider Strategic Mayoral Authority, incorporating Shropshire and Telford, offers even greater economic potential. However, my priority will always be securing the best possible deal for the residents of Newcastle-under-Lyme and ensuring our borough receives its fair share of the opportunities and investment that devolution can bring.
 

I also sincerely hope this announcement marks the beginning of the end of the Government's unwanted, unloved and unnecessary local government reorganisation proposals. Devolution offers the opportunity to genuinely transform how decisions are made, unlock economic growth and empower local communities. Local government reorganisation, by contrast, threatens to abolish councils, weaken local accountability and distract from the priorities that really matter to residents.
 

The Government should now focus on making devolution a success, rather than forcing through costly and disruptive changes to local councils that neither residents nor their elected representatives have asked for.
 

My message to the Prime Minister is simple: devolution must be more than a symbolic gesture. Transfer real decision-making powers from Westminster to Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, back them with the funding needed to make a meaningful difference, and we will get on with the job.”