In accordance with Standing Orders, the following motion has been received for consideration:
Local Government Devolution
Labour councils and councillors across the East of England have, for years, been a beacon of hope in contrast to a disastrous and divisive Conservative Government.
Labour Councils have protected key services and delivered for residents’ time and time again despite the difficult financial circumstances.
It is exciting to now have a Labour Government working with us hand in hand.
However Council does not underestimate the scale of the challenges ahead. The Conservative government left the NHS, Local Government and the economy in ruin, and it will take time to rebuild the foundations in the East and across the country.
Council resolves to:
Minutes:
Local Government Devolution
Councillor Richard Henry moved and Councillor Ceara Roopchand seconded the following motion:
‘Labour councils and councillors across the East of England have, for years, been a beacon of hope in contrast to a disastrous and divisive Conservative Government.
Labour Councils have protected key services and delivered for residents’ time and time again despite the difficult financial circumstances.
It is exciting to now have a Labour Government working with us hand in hand.
However Council does not underestimate the scale of the challenges ahead. The Conservative government left the NHS, Local Government and the economy in ruin, and it will take time to rebuild the foundations in the East and across the country.
Council resolves to:
In moving the Motion, Councillor Richard Henry highlighted his passion for Stevenage, being ambitious for its communities and noted that the Council would fight for the very best outcome for the town. Meetings and briefings across the County had been held and would continue over the next few weeks. He advised that the Government was determined in its view to deliver devolution and local government reform. He advised that having more powers in the areas of adult skills/travel to work and more money for affordable homes was to be welcomed and would be a positive outcome for Stevenage.
Cllr Henry informed Council that it would take some time for all partners to consider the best options for Hertfordshire to become a Mayoral level authority. He confirmed that the earlier announcement from the County Council Leader that a single Unitary Council was his preferred option was not supported by any of the District Leaders in Hertfordshire.
It was noted that further information was expected imminently from the Minister on the detail of what the Government would be asking of local Councils. A County level working party made up of all Council Leaders and the Police and Crime Commissioner had been convened to gather the data necessary to inform options for submission to the Government by the end of March 2025.
Cllr Henry concluded by confirming that his priority would be to make sure any proposals put the needs of Stevenage first.
In seconding the motion, Councillor Roopchand advised that the devolution proposals were a unique opportunity to shape the future of Stevenage and help to provide solutions to challenges. Services such as Health Care and Education would be able to be tailored to better suit the needs of the community. Residents would have more involvement in decisions affecting their daily lives as there would be stronger ownership and responsibility. There would also be opportunities to boost the local economy and the local infrastructure.
Councillor Booth, Leader of the Opposition stated that the Government’s plans for devolution and reform had no guarantees that powers would be devolved locally and, in his view, the reason this was being proposed was to save money. He suggested that it would have been more useful if a campaign for electoral reform rather than local government reform was the concern for the government.
Councillor Bibby stated that a devolution package was needed but was concerned about the potential and associated impacts of the County being broken up. In his opinion, a single Unitary Council would provide all services cutting out public confusion regarding responsibility.
Councillor McGuinness stated that he did not doubt the Leader’s commitment to the Town but the proposals from this Government would take the powers away from local Councils and voting for this motion would be a vote for the dissolution of Stevenage Borough Council.
Councillor Speller advised that although he had concerns around neighbourhood governance and the distance between the service suppliers and the public, there were benefits of economies of scale for services such as such as recycling and refuse, housing and social care, workforce skills and Town and Country Planning.
Upon being put to the vote, the Motion was carried.