LGIU response to the Devolution Priority Programme

LGIU response to the Devolution Priority Programme

Jonathan Carr-West, Chief Executive of LGIU (Local Government Information Unit) said:

“Today’s announcement will get a mixed reception within the sector. Those areas that have been selected for the Devolution Priority Programme will be pleased, others may feel rather bruised.

“Councils were given 16 working days to put their applications together for the Devolution Priority Programme. Countless hours were spent by council staff and elected members who worked incredibly hard over the Christmas period to meet this deadline.

“Today, we found out that less than half have been successful. It is essential that we understand more about the decision-making process around this as there will undoubtedly be some places that feel they have been marched up the hill and then marched down again having spent considerable amounts of time and political capital getting to this point.

“For those areas that are going forward there remain significant political, financial and logistical obstacles to overcome. While a route to devolution remains open to them they will have to work hard to maintain momentum.

“The Government has been keen to stress that devolution is about empowering local areas. Right now, it doesn’t feel that way. So far the process has been about central government setting out the rules of the game and picking winners. This is an irony we will need to resolve.”