South Midlands mayor plan 'in deadlock'

It's just over a year since the government published a white paper, setting out plans for English devolution involving combined authorities with regional mayors.

Local authorities were given just a month to submit a statement of interest if they wished to be part of a Devolution Priority Programme.

Instead of uniting six councils, which had just months earlier been considering creating a South Midlands combined authority, it caused a rift.

So what's happening now?

Combined authorities led by an elected mayor are the government's preferred way of linking counties so they can be handed powers over things like regional housing and transport.

Talks about creating a South Midlands authority were held between councils in Northamptonshire, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

There was disappointment in February when the government announced the South Midlands bid would not part of the first tranche of fast-tracked mayoral authorities.

During the year, it has become clear that a grouping involving Northamptonshire is no longer on the cards.

The urgent need for Northamptonshire to become part of a mayor-led strategic authority was raised by the Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) at a recent panel meeting in the context of the scrapping of her role.

When it announced the commissioners were being scrapped, the government indicated their roles would be taken by elected mayors in places that had them.

Northamptonshire's PFCC, Danielle Stone, said: "I think one of the problems we have in Northamptonshire is we don't have a plan for a mayoralty and, in the long-term, let's hope it's not too long, it means we'll be missing out on quite a lot of money."

Mark Arnull, the Reform UK leader of West Northamptonshire Council, told the same meeting: "The deal that was on the table with regards to devolution with West and North Northants, Beds, Central Beds, Luton and Milton Keynes was always the best deal if there was to be one.

"But back in July a motion was passed at full council in Milton Keynes that precluded the Northants authorities from a deal.

"So, we are in a bit of a deadlock."

In a statement, the leader added: "The scale of funding being delivered to devolved areas is significant.

"With the end of UKSPF [the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund], the absence of Pride in Place funding, and no current route into devolution it is difficult not to feel that areas like West Northamptonshire are at risk of falling behind."

It's a similar position for North Northamptonshire Council, also controlled by Reform UK.

Its leader, Martin Griffiths, said: "Both North and West Northamptonshire councils believe the South Midlands remains the only option that meets all government criteria and has unanimous backing from the business community.

"Creating a combined authority on this geography would form the seventh largest mayoral strategic authority by economic output, giving our region a strong national voice and unlocking millions of pounds of investment."

However, the Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire councils are showing no signs of changing their minds.

Hazel Simmons, Labour leader of Luton Borough Council, insisted that a combined authority covering Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes was the only one which Luton would consider.

She said: "We have a duty to maximise the benefits of creating a mayoral strategic authority and this means setting conditions we feel will give us the best chance of delivering improvements to our local area and positive change to our communities.

"The four local authorities of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes, with a combined population of over one million, have excellent partnerships and connections in place including through our long-standing joint health and care services."

Pete Marland, the Labour Leader of Milton Keynes City Council, said: "We have a very good working relationship with our BLMK partners.

"We know that we will always need to work closely with colleagues in Northamptonshire and the BLMK area shares some economic links with them, but Milton Keynes City Council has no interest establishing a combined authority with them.

"In June, 84% of MK city councillors voted to progress discussions with only BLMK partners and to oppose any devolution settlement that includes a Northamptonshire footprint."

Over in Central Bedfordshire, the Independent Alliance council leader, Adam Zerny, has been less uncompromising.

He said: "We recognise the close working relationship and commonality we have with Bedford, Milton Keynes and Luton, but we also acknowledge that, historically, we have also worked with West Northants and North Northants councils.

"Furthermore, we have strong working relationships with adjacent local authorities such as Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire.

"We are open to working with all interested local authorities to explore options."

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Bedford Borough Council, which is led by a Conservative mayor, said: "We recognise the importance of working with the neighbouring authorities, and we have strong existing working arrangements in place.

"Any devolution deal must deliver clear benefits to the residents, businesses, and other stakeholders of Bedford Borough."

The first mayoral elections in the areas that did get accepted for the first tranche are not due to take place until May 2027, so the Northamptonshire councils have some time available to try to persuade the BLMK councils to change their minds.

But they will have to do a lot of talking and lobbying with the neighbours in 2026 if they still have their hearts set on having a seat around a South Midlands table.

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