Three councils in the South East have presented the Government with a list of ‘devolution offers’ to help mitigate the pressures of economic growth.
The council leaders from West Sussex, East Sussex and Surrey county councils have written to local government minister, Greg Clark, calling for greater powers and freedoms to be devolved to the South East.
The councils say the retention of taxes raised locally and increased devolution of responsibilities would enable them to manage increased demand on school places, road and rail infrastructure, housing and social care.
The letter states: ‘Together we can ensure that the right decisions are made in the right places to guarantee that the current contribution to our nation’s success and finances is not only continued but also expanded to the full potential it can reach.’
The councils argue the proposed partnership would allow them to make long-term strategic interventions which can not be achieved by annual bidding rounds.
