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Following consideration of the officer report,
appendices, and discussion, the Executive resolved to:
 
1.   
Note the publication of the Government’s devolution White
Paper and welcomes the Government’s devolution policy
objectives (as set out in section 2 of this report), including the
ambitions to extend the geography of devolution across the country
and increase the powers, functions and budgets devolved to local
areas.  
2.   
Authorise the Leader and Chief Executive to continue to work with
partner authorities and Government departments (including Dorset.
Wiltshire and BCP Councils in the Wessex grouping) to promote and
develop a joint strategic approach to devolution.  
3.   
Recommend that Full Council:  
a.   
endorses the principle of Somerset Council working with partner
local authorities (including Dorset, Wiltshire and BCP Councils) to
secure a devolution settlement for the Wessex area and the ambition
of the partners to be part of Government’s Devolution
Priority Programme.  
b.   
accepts that Wessex has agreed to be available to Swindon Borough
Council and North Somerset Council should they wish to join Wessex
at a later stage.  
c.    
recognises that the geographies of authorities within the
Devolution Priority Programme are identified as areas for the
creation of a new MSA from 2026/27 with mayoral elections in May
2026. 
d.   
notes the potential opportunities to promote economic growth,
skills and prosperity alongside the financial benefits and
strategic and operational implications for Somerset Council arising
from a devolution settlement and the creation of a MSA.