Weca row Meeting called on ‘refusal’ to let county join
AN urgent full council meeting has been called over Bristol mayor Marvin Rees’s refusal to let North Somerset join the West of England Combined Authority (Weca).
It was demanded by six cross-party councillors who have tabled a motion urging Mr Rees to reverse his decision, which they say will cost the region hundreds of millions of pounds.
The city’s Labour mayor denies the claim and says the opposition members are “falling over themselves to act against the best interests of Bristol just to score political points”.
Lib Dem Cllrs Tim Kent and Gary Hopkins, Tory Cllrs Mark Weston, Claire Hiscott and John Goulandris and Green Cllr Jerome Thomas have signed the motion to be debated at an extraordinary meeting of Bristol City Council next Wednesday.
Earlier this month, Mr Rees was criticised by West of England mayor Tim Bowles and the leaders of South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset councils for blocking Weca’s expansion.
Conservatives Mr Bowles and Cllr Toby Savage, independent Cllr Don Davies and Lib Dem Cllr Dine Romero accused Bristol’s Labour mayor of “putting party politics before doing the right thing for the region”.
Mr Rees said he was disappointed an “ongoing internal debate” had been made public and that he did support North Somerset’s inclusion but “only when there is a clear financial offer that benefits Bristol and the West of England economy”.
The region’s leaders had been in talks with the Government about Weca’s proposed expansion but these had halted because political consensus had collapsed.
The timescale for North Somerset to join was tight as it required all three other unitary authorities to agree and then legislation put in place by late March 2021 ahead of local elections in May.
Regional growth and local government minister Luke Hall had urged council leaders to launch a public consultation and send the responses to the secretary of state by November 27.
Cllr Kent said today: “We called this special council meeting because we do not think the mayor should have unilaterally vetoed North Somerset joining Weca.
He said the Government was expecting a response from council by November 27 but that “the Government is used to Marvin Rees breaking deadlines”, so it would give some flexibility if Bristol changed its mind and showed willing to launch the consultation.
“This meeting will allow Weca’s expansion to be debated in an open and public forum.”
In response, Mr Rees said: “It is extraordinary to see the coalition of opposition councillors, elected to represent Bristol, falling over themselves to act against the best interests of Bristol, just to score political points
“The delicate and detailed discussions around expanding the combined authority have been developing for 18 months.
“In that time, all local authority leaders and the Weca mayor have agreed we need a financial settlement before progressing.
“The Government has resolutely refused to offer any idea of a settlement.”
He added: “To ignore the economic risks and proceed to a consultation of Bristolians when we have no idea what we are offering is tantamount to buying a house and agreeing the price after you have moved in.
“The coalition of opposition councillors are selling Bristol’s interests short.”
North Somerset is a member of the West of England joint committee, where it has voting rights, but not the Weca committee, which crucially includes the £1 billion, 30-year investment fund. The former Tory administration refused to join the combined authority at its inception in 2016.