The Wessex Partnership today welcomed Baroness Taylor of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for a ministerial visit focused on the area’s ambitious devolution plans and its drive for economic growth.
The visit comes at a time when councils across Wessex continue to work collaboratively as they aim to secure devolution and establish a Mayoral Strategic Authority for the area. Baroness Taylor met with leaders from the four unitary councils that make up the Wessex Partnership to discuss progress and future opportunities.
In a joint statement, the leaders of BCP, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire Councils, Cllr Millie Earl, Cllr Nick Ireland, Cllr Bill Revans, and Cllr Ian Thorn, said:
“We were delighted to welcome Baroness Taylor to share the progress we’ve made as a partnership and demonstrate to Government everything the Wessex region has to offer.
“The councils across Wessex are already unitary councils so we were keen to show how well-placed we are to support devolution and the Government’s growth priorities. We are working closely together to enhance collaboration, deliver sustainable growth, and demonstrate our commitment to a strong, locally-led devolution deal.
“As a partnership we are a national leader in key sectors including defence, clean energy, digital technologies and life sciences. We remain confident that devolution will unlock new opportunities for investment and innovation, and we are keen to move forward with a mayoral model that reflects the ambition of our councils and attracts public and private sector investment.”
Baroness Taylor said:
“It was a pleasure to be here in Wessex and hear about the area’s ambitions for devolution and driving regional growth.
“This government’s intention is to extend devolution to all corners of England as soon as possible. While the timings and process for future devolution beyond the priority programme will be subject to further ministerial decisions, we will always listen to areas’ aims as we look to move our ambitious devolution agenda forward.”
Baroness Taylor’s visit included briefings on regional initiatives, a visit to Porton Science Park, alongside the opening of the Future High Street Fund Station Forecourt scheme at Salisbury Railway Station.
The Wessex Partnership continues to work closely to promote the Wessex offer to government with the aim of securing a devolution deal that would see the creation of a Mayoral Strategic Authority by 2027.
