POLITICAL leaders from South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Bath and North East Somerset have met in the first formal meeting of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).

The meeting, held earlier today at the Watershed in Bristol, saw South Gloucestershire Council leader Cllr Matthew Riddle join Bristol mayor Marvin Rees and Bath and North East Somerset Council leader Cllr Tim Warren in talking about their hopes for the joint-authority and taking decisions to allow WECA to begin functioning.

Among these decisions was the adoption of the new constitution, which also sets out the plans for scrutiny by councillors, to be selected on a politically-proportionate basis, from the constituent members of the Combined Authority.  

The statutory officer posts and the positions for scrutiny and audit committees were also appointed.

The three politicians were also joined by Stephen Robertson, the chairman of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in discussing the powers the combined authority hold and responsibilities being handed from central government – including transport, housing, adult education and skills.

The devolution deal, worth £1 billion, will also see members of the public head to the polls on May 4 to vote for the new metro mayor who will chair the authority.

In an attempt to allay concerns that have been raised over WECA being compared to the abolished county of Avon, Cllr Riddle, who chaired the meeting yesterday, said while there was a desire to “work across county boundaries”, he would still be waking up the following day as a resident of South Gloucestershire.

Following the meeting, Cllrs Riddle and Warren and Mr Rees said in a joint statement:  “Today is a key milestone in the evolution of the effective joint working across the West of England, and builds on the work we’ve been doing in partnership for many years.

“The creation of the West of England Combined Authority brings decision-making powers on issues that were previously held in Westminster closer to local communities.

“This devolution deal unlocks a billion pounds of funding for our area and the opportunity to attract further funding and powers for the region to improve transport infrastructure, deliver affordable homes and invest in skills and training.”

The West of England Combined Authority will meet hold its second meeting in public on Wednesday, March 15 at Armada House in Bristol.