North Somerset residents could find themselves governed by a West of England Mayor they did not vote for if their council joins the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) before the next mayoral election in 2029.
When WECA was established in 2017, North Somerset Council opted not to join. However, recent government encouragement for councils to be part of combined authorities has led North Somerset to reconsider. In September, the council voted in favor of developing proposals and consulting on joining WECA.
The current West of England Metro Mayor, Labour’s Helen Godwin, was elected in 2024 with a five-year term lasting until 2029. At a WECA audit committee meeting on December 8, WECA’s head of policy confirmed that North Somerset joining the combined authority would not prompt an early mayoral election. This means the existing mayor would continue in office, including over North Somerset, despite local voters not having participated in her election.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, if North Somerset proceeds to join WECA, the process is expected to take about a year. This includes an eight-week public consultation within North Somerset and the existing WECA members, followed by parliamentary approval and another council vote. Despite uncertainty about the exact timing, it is likely North Somerset could become a full member before the 2029 elections.
Had North Somerset been part of WECA prior to the May 2024 elections, the mayoral race outcome might have been different. Helen Godwin won narrowly with 25% of the vote, narrowly edging out Reform Party candidate Arron Banks, who received 22%, followed by Green Party’s Mary Page at 20%.
WECA currently comprises Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset. This composition has raised concerns in North Somerset about effectively rejoining a structure similar to the former County of Avon. The prospect of joining WECA has also been discussed in neighboring Gloucestershire.
Though not a member, North Somerset Council has previously collaborated with WECA on initiatives like the Bus Service Improvement Plan and the restoration of the Portishead Railway. Recently, North Somerset representatives have attended WECA committee meetings as observers, signaling growing ties.