SOUTH Gloucestershire Council is deciding tonight whether to support a bid for devolution in the West of England.

The authority's full council is meeting at Kingswood Civic Centre to decide on the proposal, which would combine the former Avon area under a regional mayor and would bring £1billion of funding to the region.

North Somerset Council has already turned down the deal but the three remaining councils – Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, and South Gloucestershire – can still go forward.

Cllr Matthew Riddle (Con, Severn), leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “If accepted, the deal would devolve significant powers to the region, including decisions about transport, investment, funding, skills training, business support, housing and strategic planning.

“All of this will benefit South Gloucestershire as these issues are bigger than any single local authority boundary, but joint decisions will reflect local priorities.

“The deal on offer is among the best negotiated across the country, and it is conditional on the introduction of an elected West of England mayor to oversee these devolved arrangements.”

Liberal Democrats in the West of England support devolution, however, they oppose the current government deal on offer including a new 'metro mayor'.

Lib Dem leaders Ruth Davis (South Gloucestershire), Dine Romero (Bath and North East Somerset), and Gary Hopkins (Bristol) said: “We are very sceptical about the deal in front of us.

"There are still too many unanswered questions about what we’re being asked to vote on, and what the long-term options are going to be.

"They haven’t even explained how the economic performance is going to be measured, now we’re being warned of a recession if we leave the EU.”

They added: “This deal is being pushed through despite Lib Dem concerns, and we will need to find a way to make it work. The mayor should not be imposed on the West against our will.

"We have asked searching questions of officers, and people answering questions have been unable to answer them because government hasn’t decided yet.”