devolution summary

7/25/2019 Devolution Summary

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NORTH EAST COMBINED AUTHORITY AREADEVOLUTION PROPOSALSSummary of argumen! " #raf $eer o %oun%&$$or! " #raf mo&on

Based on a presentation on Momentum Tyne & Wear on 18 thJanuary 2016 by

Harry Cross (Campaign gainst n !"e#ted Mayor $ C!M%

'( Summary of argumen!

What is being proposed?

The election of a mayor for the entire North East Combined Authority area

(County Durham, Northumberland, Newcastle, underland, !ateshead,

North Tyneside " outh Tyneside#

This will hand decisions regarding the pro$isioning of local ser$ices o$er to

one indi$idual and commissioners or commissioning bodies partly or

wholly appointed by this indi$idual %&' millionyr for the entire region are being o)ered* To put this in

perspecti$e, this is a drop in the ocean compared to what has been cut

from local go$ernment in recent years* The combined authority would not

ha$e the freedom to spend this money as it wishes

Why are we against this?

An e+ecuti$e mayor would sideline our local councillors who are our

democratic lin- to local communities

An election for a single indi$idual for an area as large as the NE is

inappropriate when what is at sta-e are local go$ernment ser$ices in local

communities . this is best debated, discussed and $oted on in wards so

that each community is represented

/t is inappropriate for an indi$idual based in Newcastle or underland to

ma-e decisions that a)ect local ser$ice pro$ision in 0arnard Castle*

Di)erent parts of the region will su)er under this deal1 Northumberland

and County Durham, as rural counties, would probably lose money that

would be spent on large infrastructure pro2ects in the Tyne " Wear

metropolitan area

This structure ma-es it easier for the outsourcing (and thus creeping

pri$atisation# of local ser$ices to occur without full democratic o$ersight

from councils* 3owe$er, the local authority would still ha$e the legalresponsibility for the pro$ision of ser$ices meaning that it would get the

blame when pri$ate pro$iders fail to deli$er

/n the longrun, this could 4uite possibly lead to a reduction in the

numbers of councillors as their roles are progressi$ely reduced relati$e to

the mayor*

/s this de$olution?

N56 !eorge 5sborne has hi2ac-ed this word to gain support for his

restructuring of local go$ernment* This is a way for central go$ernment

and pri$ate pro$iders to e+tend in7uence into the pro$ision of local

ser$ices through single indi$iduals such as a mayor whilst sidelininge+isting local go$ernment structures*


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Why are the Tories doing this?

8ocal ser$ices are a sitting duc- for pri$ate pro$iders* These 9de$olution:

proposals ma-e it easier for alternati$e forms of pro$ision to be

implemented*

This has been an e)ecti$e means of sowing di$isions and chaos in local8abour groups* There is also a longterm strategy of crac-ing 8abour

heartlands by the Tories associating themsel$es with bu;; words such as

9de$olution: and 9Northern power house: whilst local 8abour councils get

the blame for ine$itable cuts in local ser$ices as a result of cuts by central

go$ernment* /t is thus much more li-ely that a Tory or independent could

be elected as a mayor in a NE wide$ote then is the case in the current

local go$ernment structures (in the same way that 0oris local authorities

concerned* Agreement is contingent on (a# parliamentary legislation

enabling de$olution (b# successfully earmar-ing the promised funding and

(c# local consultation*

A council can pull out of the deal unilaterally, though many are fearful of

the bad publicity this would supposedly bring* /f out of > authorities pull

out the whole deal is sun-* There has not been much open opposition in

some councils at this point . many are waiting for others to ta-e the lead*

A si;eable rump in each local authority opposes the plans but man are

reluctant to stic- their heads abo$e the parapet at this stage to put up

uni=ed opposition to the deal* /t is being presented to many as a done deal(it is not# and the facts ha$e not been properly e+plained*

We are ma-ing the case that there )a! no *een !u+%&en

%on!u$a&onwith the public on this issue* ,)en re!en! are a-are

of )e fa%! of )e maer )ey are o..o!e# o )e #e/o$u&on

.ro.o!a$!(5nly County Durham has organised a poll and the 4uestions

are misleading* @oreo$er, we are trying to demonstrate that when the

public are consulted they are against these proposals* There is thus e$ery

reason for councillors to $ote against the proposals*

What can be done to oppose the proposals?

,r&eto your local councillors saying you oppose the detail (use this

document for instruction#* This will gi$e councillors the con=dence to ta-e

a stand if they feel they ha$e the bac-ing of residents*

ass motions in C8s and other organisations against the de$olution

proposals*Ma0e !ure you $e your %oun%&$$or! 0no- &f a $o%a$

mee&ng )a! a0en .$a%e -)ere #e/o$u&on -a! #&!%u!!e# an# &f

.eo.$e -ere aga&n! &*

5rganise consultations1 set up a meeting in your area, 8abour branch or

e+ternal organisation to discuss the proposals* /n$ite spea-ers, ta-e a

stand and let your councillors -now what you thought

e$eral 9consultations: ha$e ta-en place already when local groups discussthe de$olution proposals and their implications* /f you:$e attended a


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meeting and people were opposed let your councillors -now so they -now

that they will be supported if they ta-e a stand against the proposals*

The Campaign Against an Elected @ayor (CAAE@# will be holding a

conference in Bebruary (time " place T0C, probably in Newcastle#* The

conference will debate the current de$olution proposal and put acti$ists

and councillors opposed to the deal in contact with each other* This will letthose who oppose the deal -now they are not alone, it is not a done deal

and that we can win this* A#/er&!e )e mee&ng -e$y an#

en%ourage )o!e aroun# you o aen#(

ou can =nd CAAE@ on Baceboo- (Campaign Against an Elected @ayor .

North East Combined Authority# and you can as- to be added to their

mailing list* Contact cross*harrygmail*comif interested*
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


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1( Mo#e$ $eer o %oun%&$$or

t is best i' you rite a persona"ised "etter to your #oun#i""or (and others in the

area)% as this i"" ma*e it #"ear that there is popu"ar opposition to the #urrent

+de,o"ution- proposa"s. Hoe,er/ hat is ritten be"o is supposed to gi,e some

indi#ations o' hat to support/ and you may ish to in#"ude the *ey arguments

#ited in bu""et point 'orms as the #entra" arguments o' your "etter.

Dear FcouncillorG,

F/ntroduce yourselfG

/ am concerned about the socalled 9de$olution: plans that !eorge 5sborne is

trying to impose on the North East* This is for the following reasons1

There has been insuHcient public consultation on the matter* The public

are unaware of what is at sta-e and when the facts of the matter aree+plained people are o$erwhelmingly against the proposals*

These proposals are not really 9de$olution:, but a way of centralising local

go$ernment within the North East around an e+ecuti$e mayor who will be

unaccountable to local communities*

An elected mayor would sideline local councils and local councillors* The

number of councillors in the North East could be reduced in the years to

come, all in the name of 9cutting the cost of go$ernment:

5ne elected mayor cannot represent the entire North East* /t is wrong for

one indi$idual wor-ing out of an oHce in FNewcastle Ii' you don-t "i,e in

e#ast"eJunderland Ii' you "i,e in e#ast"eG to ma-e decisions

a)ecting local ser$ices in Fwhere you li$eG* F' your #oun#i""or is not a ToryG1 !eorge 5sborne and the Tories are trying

to impose these 9de$olution: proposals on the North East*

@any -ind regards,

Fyour name6GK

ee" 'ree to edit3persona"ise as you ish4


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2( Mo#e$ mo&on

This is a generi# motion. ee" 'ree to edit to ma*e appropriate 'or your

organisation.

/n the coming wee-s, councils in the North East Combine Authority area will be

$oting whether or not to support socalled 9de$olution: proposals drafted by

!eorge 5sborne and the Conser$ati$e arty*

3O..o!e )e !o4%a$$e# #e/o$u&on .ro.o!a$! &n )e Nor) Ea!5"

3Su..or rea$ #e/o$u&on &n )e Nor) Ea!5

The Conser$ati$e go$ernment is pushing for a ma2or reform of local go$ernment

in the North East, which it is calling 9de$olution:* This will put in place an elected

mayor with ma2or responsibilities regarding local go$ernment ser$ices across the

entire North East Combined Authority area Councils ha$e yet to formally sign up

to these proposals* Councils can withdraw from the proposals* /f two councilswithdraw then the proposals will not go ahead*

We belie$e1

That these socalled 9de$olution: proposals do not really o)er de$olution*

They propose a centralisation of local ser$ice pro$ision within the North

East*

An elected mayor would sideline local go$ernment representati$es in the

North East* 8ocal councillors, not an elected mayor, are best placed to

ma-e decisions regarding local ser$ices in their area*

There has been insuHcient public consultation surrounding thesede$olution proposals* When the facts of the matter are presented, it is

li-ely that many people will oppose the socalled 9de$olution: plans*

We resol$e1

To oppose the socalled 9de$olution: proposals in the North East Combined

Authority area*

To urge our local councillors to $ote against the de$olution proposals*

FTo support rea"de$olution in the North East, within a structure that is

based on the demands of residents and local go$ernment representati$es,

and which is based on wellfunded local ser$ices*GK

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