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Councillor Bill Revans proposed the
recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Mandy
Chilcott.
 
Having been duly proposed and seconded, the
Council Resolved to:-

     
i.        
endorse 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
Programme, while remaining open to working with other authorities
outside the Wessex area where it was demonstrably beneficial to
Somerset.

    
ii.        
accept that Wessex had agreed to be available to Swindon Borough
Council and North Somerset Council should they wish to join Wessex
at a later stage.

   
iii.        
recognise that the geographies of authorities within the Devolution
Programme were identified as areas for the creation of a new
MSA.

  
iv.        
note 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.
 
(NB – recommendation (i) amended at the
meeting)