A BID for more devolved powers for Gloucestershire is ‘on hold’ with the topic no longer top of the ministerial agenda.

Civil servants who had previously been working on various regional devolution deals have been “refocused on Brexit matters”, Stroud District Council’s chief executive David Hagg said in an email to council staff.

Seeking to better link services offered by local authorities across Gloucestershire, an official statement of intent document was submitted to the government in July – formally launching the county’s devolution process.

However the bid has been put on hold by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), according to Mr Hagg.

He said: “Gloucestershire’s devolution bid is on hold.

“Devolution to the shires is no longer near the top of the ministerial agenda in communities and local government.

“With the government concentrating on existing devolution deals, civil servants have been refocused on Brexit matters.”

Deals have been agreed in ten areas across the country including the West of England, which includes South Gloucestershire whilst proposals for a further 26, with Gloucestershire’s bid amongst them, have been put forward.

Gloucestershire’s bid was jointly worked on by all six district councils, along with the county council, police and police and crime commissioner, GFirst local enterprise partnership and the county’s clinical commissioning group.

The involved parties hope that a deal bringing closer co-operation would leave them better-off financially.

A DCLG spokesman said: “This government is committed to devolving powers to strong, accountable local leaders so they can boost jobs and growth, and we will continue working with local partners in Gloucestershire and across the country to build an economy that works for everyone."

Further information on the county's devolution bid can be found at weareglos.com