The leader of Milton Keynes City Council has voiced his disappointment after a bid for regional devolution was rejected.
Cllr Pete Marland was speaking after the national government announced plans for devolved administrations, but that a joint bid by Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes had not been chosen to be progressed towards the next stage of the process.
A joint bid by Bedford, Luton and Milton Keynes’ respective councils under the BLMK banner had been submitted to a national government proposal for “devolution areas”, with a view to holding mayoral elections in May 2026 as part of a re-organisation of their local government structures.
Re-organisations have been approved for Sussex, Essex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Suffolk, Surrey and Cumbria, which will see planned elections in 2025 postponed while the re-organisations take place and new structures incorporating unitary authorities in place of district and county councils are set up.
Cllr Marland voiced his disappointment in a statement that the government opted against choosing the BLMK bid as a contender.
He said, “It is very disappointing that the government has decided not to take forward Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes as part of the Priority Programme for devolution at this time. We understand that the region has a complicated geography with a lot of uncertainty, with government required to ensure that no area is left without the potential for devolution.
“However, the BLMK footprint is the only combination of local authorities on which Milton Keynes expressed an interest or is willing to consider at present, and given recent announcements regarding the re-emergence of the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor and the pressing need for economic growth we believe not progressing with a BLMK Mayoral Strategic Authority as quickly as possible is a missed opportunity.
“We remain committed to the potential that devolution brings and working with partners to move decision-making out of Westminster and closer to local people. We still feel that BLMK is the right economic, health and social geography. We understand that other issues mean it may be some time before a wider national picture is understood, but we will continue to work with the government to promote the benefits of a BLMK model and pressing for inclusion on that basis as quickly as possible because it is best for our city, region and national economy.”
The approach had already been the subject of controversy, after plans for a greater South Midlands area including Northamptonshire councils were revised with areas covered in Northamptonshire dropped.
A separate bid by West and North Northamptonshire Council to also be part of the fast track process was also not selected by the department helmed by Local Government Secretary Angela Rayner to be part of the process.
The Labour government that took office in July last year had promised to expand devolution for local governments as part of their manifesto.