Key Facts

• Amendment 46 requires public consultation before the establishment of a CCA.
• Amendment 48 mandates public consultation before amending a CCA area.
• Amendment 49 insists on public consultation before the dissolution of a CCA.
• Clauses 7 to 70 establish combined county authorities (CCAs) which will receive power and money from the centre to drive forward development.
• Amendments 46, 48, and 49 aim to introduce public consultation before establishing, amending, or dissolving CCAs.
• The MP highlights examples of successful combined authorities such as Greater Manchester Combined Authority and West Midlands Combined Authority.
• The current combined council authority in Cumbria was elected at the beginning of May with a Liberal Democrats majority.
• Less than 1% of the population of Cumbria responded to the initial consultation on reorganisation.
• There are 42 integrated care systems (ICSs) that do not align with CCA boundaries, causing disparities in governance.
• The new institution proposed is the combined county authority model (CCA).
• Clauses 42, 44, and 45 provide for consultation on establishing, amending, or abolishing a CCA.
• A summary of the consultation results must be submitted to the Secretary of State along with the proposal.
• Amendment would require the Secretary of State to conduct an independent evaluation of establishing CCAs.
• Report must be laid before Parliament within 12 months of the Act coming into force.
• CCAs will have a different legal status from existing combined authorities despite similar functions.
• The Bill aims to establish CCAs as a practical way to deliver devolution without unitarisation.
• Neil O'Brien argues against the fear that CCAs represent a back door way of removing district council powers, stating districts can choose not to participate.
• Alex Norris questions the timeline proposed by the Minister for future deals under these provisions.
• Amendment 17 would give CCA the power to vary constitutional arrangements after initial regulations.
• The Secretary of State can establish initial arrangements but CCAs should have autonomy thereafter.
• The Health and Care Act 2022 created bodies similar to CCAs, but with potential interference from the Secretary of State.
• The amendment would require the publication of demographic details for non-constituent members.
• Another amendment aims to include similar requirements for associate members.
• Both amendments aim to increase transparency regarding CCA membership composition.
• Amendments 18 and 19 would mandate annual audits of age, gender, and ethnic composition for non-constituent and associate members.
• Only one elected Mayor is a woman and only one is from a black, Asian or minority ethnic background.
• The Equality Act 2010 has provisions requiring diversity data publication but they remain unactivated.
• The abolition of metropolitan counties in the 1980s resulted in non-elected bodies being formed.
• Cumbria had around 300 to 350 elected members before reorganisation and roughly 100 after.
• Scaling up local government can push out certain groups like women with caring responsibilities.
• Clause 9 provides a flexible framework for CCAs to appoint non-constituent members representing organisations such as district councils or LEPs.
• Clause 10 allows CCAs to appoint associate members, typically individual experts like local business leaders.
• Examples include the appointment of Dame Sarah Storey by Greater Manchester Combined Authority on active travel issues.
• Amendment 19 would require the publication of age, gender, and ethnicity data for associate CCA members.
• Amendment 18 was withdrawn due to concerns over non-constituent membership.
• The amendment proposing additional reporting requirements was defeated with a vote of Ayes 6, Noes 9.
• Amendment 20 would require the Secretary of State to publish reasons for variations in CCA regulations.
• The amendment aims to ensure alignment in constitutional arrangements among different CCAs.
• Murray expresses discomfort with asymmetric devolution between Greater Manchester and Nottingham.
• Devolution agreements should differ based on local wants.
• Places are at different readiness levels for devolution processes.
• The amendment proposes a lockstep approach which the speaker disagrees with.