Decision details

Levelling Up White Paper

The Chair advised that this White Paper had just been published.  In respect of its content, she made an initial holding statement.

The Chair stated that, whilst she welcomed the intent in the White Paper to level up areas of the country that had been left behind, and that there may be opportunities for Stevenage going forward, she had a number of concerns as to how levelling up was to be funded.  In particular whether the funding would be for the long term and would genuinely address issues across the UK and not be over-focussed on the north-east and north-west.

The Chair felt that it was disappointing that the proposal of the Hertfordshire Growth Board submitted in the autumn of 2021 had not been accepted as a “pathfinder” project at this stage of the levelling up process.  This was particularly so, as all 11 Hertfordshire local authorities, together with the Local Enterprise Partnership and Integrated Care Service were already working constructively in a statutory committee with a clear vision for the future of Hertfordshire.

The Chair recognised that there were significant economic, health, skills and housing inequalities in Hertfordshire, which were trying to be addressed through community wealth building.  However, a long term strategy was needed, with ongoing funding support from the Government, to deliver for deprived communities, including some in Stevenage.

The Chair considered that, whilst levelling up could clearly benefit Stevenage in helping to drive forward the skills agenda, especially in the science and technology sector, an opportunity for a real step towards genuine transformational devolution had been missed.

The Chair was of the view that, without a significant funding package from the Government Treasury, and a new constitutional settlement to unshackle local government from Westminster, this White Paper would not achieve the full potential of localism.  She felt that what was needed at local level was a secure and sustainable package of funding and powers to enable local leaders to supercharge the economy for the benefit of residents and businesses.  Powers and funding would enable investment in transport infrastructure, skills development, economic growth and secure affordable housing, as well as the health inequalities in deprived communities.

The Chair welcomed the devolution of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, but was concerned that it was to be allocated on a formula system rather than through a bidding system.  She felt that the sum available should at least match the funding that was previously delivered through European Union schemes.  The ability to direct funding to where it could be used most effectively should be in the hands of local leaders and not Whitehall.

The Chair commented that real devolution of the funding would see each area allocated the resources it needed to make local projects happen.  It was also the case that much of the funding had already been announced by the Government.  She regretted that the White Paper had no focus on the Climate Change and digital capability agendas of local authorities.