North Somerset Council is poised to consider spending almost £300,000 to join the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), a regional partnership that includes Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.
At the full council meeting on September 16, councillors will vote on whether to initiate a year-long membership process. North Somerset initially resisted joining WECA, concerned it resembled a mayoral-led resurrection of the former County of Avon. However, recent concerns about missing out on vital government funding have prompted a reassessment.
A report for the upcoming meeting outlines that £290,000 has been earmarked to cover staff costs, specialist consultancy, and public consultation during the membership process. This process involves an eight-week consultation with residents and current WECA members, a further council vote in North Somerset, and Parliamentary approval.
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It remains uncertain whether North Somerset’s membership would take effect immediately or only after the 2029 mayoral election. Joining before that election would place the area under the authority of current WECA Metro Mayor Helen Godwin, elected in May, despite no North Somerset voter participation in that election. Ms. Godwin narrowly defeated Reform UK candidate Arron Banks to become mayor.
Before the election, Green Party councillor Thomas Daw from Wrington hinted that the decision to join could depend on the mayoral candidate elected, expressing concerns about the prospect of an “awful person” winning.
Since the election, North Somerset representatives have attended WECA committee meetings alongside member councils and the mayor, albeit without voting rights. Despite remaining outside WECA, North Somerset has cooperated with the combined authority on projects such as the bus service improvement plan and the Portishead Railway reopening.
The key motivator for reconsidering membership now is renewed governmental emphasis on regional partnerships, which affects access to substantial funds. For example, WECA secured £750 million in transport funding over the next five years, funding that is either allocated directly to WECA or requires its approval, leaving North Somerset dependent without membership.
The council anticipates that joining WECA would unlock significant additional capital and revenue funding in critical areas. However, the report cautions that membership also entails costs. For instance, current WECA member councils pay a transport levy supporting bus services, and any such financial obligations would require careful negotiation and council approval.
A year ago, on September 17, 2024, North Somerset formally expressed interest in joining WECA by writing to the government. A supportive response came in February from then-Minister for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon.
Council leader Mike Bell has also explored the possibility of joining a different regional partnership, the proposed Heart of Wessex Combined Authority, covering Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, and Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP). However, the government has stated that this proposal does not meet geographic criteria for combined authority status.