Jim Grant: Devolution and the future of Swindon

The government’s decision to devolve more powers to local authorities is to be welcomed in principle. Decisions are always more effective when are taken by people close to those who are affected by the decision.

However, there is a danger for Swindon in this approach as devolution appears to be directed at the largest local authorities.

The government’s decision to devolve more powers to local authorities is to be welcomed in principle. Decisions are always more effective when are taken by people close to those who are affected by the decision.

However, there is a danger for Swindon in this approach as devolution appears to be directed at the largest local authorities. The emphasis on devolved powers to Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Bristol is likely to isolate towns and cities outside these areas. Already Hull and Norwich have expressed concerns that because they are geographically isolated from other authorities their chance of receiving financial and other support for regeneration and infrastructure projects from central government will be diminished.

If cities the size of Hull and Norwich are worried Swindon should be extremely concerned. The government is insisting that groups of local authorities combine, under the leadership of an elected mayor, in order to run Transport, Housing, Regeneration, Economic growth and other matters. Swindon has no natural, geographical local authority to combine which thereby limits our ability to take on these powers.

I believe this to be beyond a political concern locally and all parties in Swindon should be looking to work together to advocate government’s devolution of powers should not be limited to the large metropolitan authorities. There are towns in similar positions to Swindon – Crawley, Milton Keynes and Peterborough for example. As a town we should be seeking to co-operate with towns such as these to put pressure on the government to find ways to devolve powers to smaller authorities.

If we don’t persuade central government then our ambitions for Swindon on Town Centre regeneration, the Thamesdown Drive extension and enhanced economic growth may never be realised.

Cllr Jim Grant
Labour Group Leader