Devo Suffolk

Suffolk took its first step towards seeking devolved powers from central government on 4th September when an 'expression of interest' was sent into Westminster.  I understand that not every council has risen to the challenge of seeking  devolved powers at this stage, but Suffolk wants to be in the vanguard.

The document, which can be downloaded here , will be discussed at the full council meeting next week.  It is not a very detailed paper, nor, it has to be said, a very user friendly one despite its colourful and cheerful appearance.  This probably has something to do with the fact that the process has been very 'Westminster driven'. Little guidance has been given from on high,  and the civil servants in charge have set tight and shifting deadlines for responses.  It seems that what DCGL (Department of Communities and Local Government) wants is something resembling a market in ideas that have been submitted to them by local authorities defining what, and how much, each would like to see devolved.  It is not surprising therefore that the Suffolk pitch is somewhat 'woolly', containing jargon aimed at bureaucrats rather than at the general public.

Whatever powers are devolved in the end (if any....many of us remain sceptical), it is clear that the structure of local government will change at the end of the process.  This is true not least because not only councils but also public bodies such as the Police and Crime Commissioner and the NHS are involved in the process. Additionally at the Local Government Association Conference this year, Michael Heseltine made it clear that no power would be devolved to what he described as 'old structures'.

The devolution 'prize' for places that are in the vanguard will, we are told, be 'significant'.  The only problem is that no one at present is very clear what this actually means