Council could finally join combined authority

North Somerset Council voted against joining the WECA seven years ago

North Somerset could join the West of England Combined Authority, and has expressed its interest to the government.

It is the only part of the former County of Avon not to be part of the combined authority.

North Somerset Council leader Mike Bell said: "This is an expression of interest. It is no more than that. It isn’t a deal, it isn’t a set of proposals, and there’s clearly a lot of work to be done."

It follows a letter from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner to council leaders across the country, urging them to join combined authorities.

'Positives and negatives'

Ms Rayner's letter was sent as part of "the most ambitious programme of devolution this country has ever seen".

But Mr Bell said joining WECA was "not the only option on the table" at a meeting on 17 September, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"This is not signing on the dotted line but it is saying we are interested, we are up for the conversation with government about how to access a devolution deal, which is all about trying to secure long-term benefits for residents, businesses, and others in North Somerset," he added.

Mr Bell also explained there "are lots of positives and some negatives" regarding potential devolution deals.

The four unitary authorities of North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire used to form one county council - the County of Avon.

The controversial merger was created in 1974, creating a “greater Bristol” by breaking off southern parts of Gloucestershire and northern parts of Somerset.

It was dissolved in 1996, creating four unitary authorities, before three of them reconvened under WECA in 2017, with North Somerset voting against joining.

If it joins WECA by its next elections in May 2025, North Somerset residents will be able to vote for the West of England Metro Mayor.

Dan Norris became Labour's metro mayor for the area in 2021 but was also elected MP for North East Somerset and Hanham at this year’s general election.

It has not yet been confirmed whether he will stand for re-election.