Agenda item - Update on Greater Brighton Devolution Bid

Report of the Chair, Greater Brighton Officer Programme Board (copy attached).

1)            That the Board note the report.

14.1      The Board considered a report of the Chair, Greater Brighton Programme Board that provided an update on progress on the City Region’s bid for Devolution.

14.2      Councillor Theobald noted his disappointment that the City Region’s Devolution bid had not progressed further than its current status. Councillor Theobald noted that there would soon be an announcement on a new runaway at either Gatwick or Heathrow and there would be big repercussions for the City Region, especially in terms of transport links if the former was the preferred option.

14.3      Prof. Humphris agreed that progress had been slow but that should be seen in the context of the likely diversion of resources following the recent EU referendum. Prof. Humphris asked for more information on the Creative Industries Council.

14.4      Nick Hibberd clarified that the Creative Industries Council was proposed in the September 2015 Devolution submission and was an effort to bring together the creative industries to work with central government on new funding streams. Furthermore, the Arts & Creative Industries Commission could be something broadened at Greater Brighton scale in the future. Nick Hibberd added that it had not been possible to recruit to the Policy & Projects Manager position that had impacted upon officer capacity.

14.5      Councillor Morgan agreed that there had been an inevitable delay in the Devolution process due to the re-shaping of the Ministerial team under the new Prime Minister. Councillor Morgan noted his disappointment that the new Prime Minister had made clear that the requirement for a directly elected mayor as a condition of devolution deals would remain and that this insistence was in itself a delay to the process. Councillor Morgan expressed his hope that the City Region could make it clear that the City Region, unlike other areas that had successfully negotiated devolution deals was not a metropolitan area and that the Board demonstrated strong partnership working and could operate at pace and therefore, did not require a directly elected mayor.

14.6      The Chair stated that the region could instead pitch a City Deal 2 type slightly similar to that proposed by Cornwall and he would be happy to take those discussions forward.

14.7      Councillor Theobald agreed that the City Region was comparatively of smaller scale than metropolitan areas that had population levels of closer to 2-3 million people and therefore had no specific purpose for a directly elected mayor.

14.8      RESOLVED-  That the Board note the report.