Devolution fast track approved by Northants unitaries

But south Mids partners could exclude ‘damaged goods’ Northants at final hour

A late post from us today - as we bring you news from two special meetings held this evening about devolution

By Sarah Ward

Northants two councils could next year form part of a larger south Midlands strategic authority. Nadia Lincoln image.

Northants two unitaries have decided to put themselves forward for the fast track devolution programme tonight but it could be a bumpy road as its partners may not be so keen.

The county could have mayoral elections and become part of a south Midlands strategic authority next year, after both unitaries voted in favour of devolution at special meetings held at their headquarters.

The councils will tell deputy PM Angela Rayner tomorrow that they want to join with neighbouring authorities in Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Luton, but in an eleventh hour snub some of the partner councils have said they want to proceed without the Northants councils.

During tonight’s meetings the Northants authorities were likened by councillors to ‘damaged goods’ ‘naughty children’, and ‘the Millwall of local government’ but the two leaders Cllr Adam Brown from West Northants and Cllr Jason Smithers from the North unitary, played down any disagreements, with Cllr Brown saying 18 hours is a long time in politics and it was a fast moving picture while Cllr Smithers said ‘there was only one show in town. All councils who want to be involved in the fast track devolution must respond to government by tomorrow.

Leaders Cllr Brown (left) and Cllr Smithers have won backing for a south Midlands strategic authority

Imploring his council to get on board with devolution, Cllr Brown said ‘this is not a change we can resist.’

He said:

“Seldom do we find ourselves confronted with real opportunity in local government. We may handle important services, large budgets and take responsibility for hundreds and thousands of residents, but watershed moments are few and far between. This is such a moment.

“The government is clear. Devolution is the default and in time, all of England’s combined authorities will have an elected mayor. So the question for us today isn't if, but when. And if we are willing to maximise the opportunities of being an early adopter of devolved government’.

He said at this stage councillors should ‘put aside’ who the mayor may be’.

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Both Northants leaders have been in talks for many months with their neighbours about the devolution deal, however the discussions have been kept relatively quiet from the wider council.

Any new south Midlands partnership would not replace the unitaries - it would instead be an additional layer of local government, which would have funding packages and the mayor would have executive powers to make decisions on matters such as transport and housing.

It is only four years since Northants had local government reorganisation and tonight’s meetings had shades of 2019, when the districts and boroughs voted unwillingly for the new unitary system.

Devolution is being pushed through by Labour, but even Labour councillors voiced their concerns tonight. Cllr Valerie Anslow, who represents Croyland and Swanspool ward in Wellingborough and Cllr John McGhee, who is elected to represent the Kingswood ward in Corby, said they disagreed with the plan.

Reform UK’s new councillors in North Northants also spoke against.

Cllr Martin Griffiths said:

“Bigger is not better. We should know this by now in Northamptonshire. This is not about local democracy. It is about party politics and power.”

He said more local government reorganisation was not a priority and instead the leaders should ‘get their houses in order’.

Independent on North Northants, Cllr Jim Hakewill, who represents Rothwell, accused Cllr Smithers of leaving the rest of the council ‘completely in the dark about all the negotiations that have gone on’ and said ‘we are being bounced into a decision.’

And deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat group in West Northants, Cllr Jonathan Harris said devolution was ‘being rushed through’.

He said:

“The carrot being the cash, the stick being - we will do it anyway.”

He said the council leaders of the six authorities that could make up a south Midlands group, should instead be fully occupied by their own council activities rather than being involved in cabinet meetings of the larger authority.

The Labour leader on the West unitary, Cllr Wendy Randall said her group supported the move, although had concerns that major reorganisation should be needed in health and policing services which are currently aligned with the east Midlands. She also urged the matter not to become a ‘political shuttlecock’ and said opposition parties needed to be kept up to date with discussions.

Leader of the West independent group, Cllr Ian McCord accused the Labour government of being on a quest to ‘bankrupt’ the country and turn it into North Korea. He said no amount of local government reorganisation would solve the issue of adult social care, which he said is not being addressed.

In the end the decision to move ahead with devolution talks was easily passed, with just a handful of votes against and abstentions on both councils.

A government-led consultation will now begin and in the autumn there will be a final vote on whether to join with the other councils to form a south Midlands entity. Mayoral elections would then take place in May 2026.