Devolution option agreed amid 'Billy no mates' fear

A council has voted to pursue a devolution deal amid concerns it was happy to settle for a "Billy No Mates" county-only option.

West Northamptonshire Council is to submit an expression of interest in creating a Foundation Strategic Authority (FSA) which would provide greater control over key issues including jobs, transport, housing and long-term investment.

It agreed on its preferred option of being part of a wider "South Midlands" authority, with a fallback of aligning only with North Northamptonshire.

West Northants' leader Mark Arnull said the Reform-led council needed to state its case to avoid being "misaligned or dangerously left behind" ahead of a government deadline of Friday.

A South Midlands FSA could also include the council districts of:

• Bedford
• Central Bedfordshire
• Luton
• Milton Keynes
• North Northamptonshire

If all councils involved could not agree on a South Midlands authority, West Northamptonshire would work with colleagues in the north of the county on a joint proposal for a Northamptonshire FSA, the council said.

If this was pursued, West Northamptonshire would still be open to expanding the FSA's footprint in the future.

"An expression of interest is not a legally binding commitment," said Arnull.

"If we do nothing, devolution could ultimately be imposed upon us.

"It gives us a voice, a choice and a seat at the table as the national picture evolves.

"It ensures that major decisions about our future are not shaped in Westminster, but here in Northamptonshire."

Conservative opposition group leader Daniel Lister stressed the deadline was "rolling" and the council risked "jumping the gun" ahead of Milton Keynes local elections in May, which would help move its own discussions forward.

"If South Midlands forms without us, we are surrounded by better-resourced neighbours on every side, with no mayor and no equivalent fund – that is the worst of all worlds," he said.

Sally Keeble, Labour group leader, said: "It will be harder for us to persuade them [residents] to go in with North Northamptonshire when we have only just left [following the scrapping of Northamptonshire County Council], than it would be to go into the much more ambitious project, which is South Midlands."

Liberal Democrat Christine Ware said a Northamptonshire-only deal should be a "very, very last resort".

"As one of the councils not allocated a geography - which does feel a bit like we're on the 'Billy No Mates' list of councils - it is imperative we find a way to shape our future rather than wait for somebody else to invite us to the party," she added.

"As the recommendation is worded at present, it looks like we're prepared to accept the Billy No Mates label," she said, pointing out that it appeared happy to settle for a Northamptonshire FSA "because we don't have anyone else".

A total of 48 councillors were in favour of submitting an expression of interest, with eight against and one abstention.

North Northamptonshire Council is seeking approval to submit an expression of interest for a Northamptonshire FSA when it meets on Thursday.

The government's deadline for submission of proposals is on Friday.

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