CONSERVATIVE councillors in South Gloucestershire have defended their position after criticism from opposition councillors after an apparent U-turn over a referendum for devolution.

In April, leaders of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat groups within South Gloucestershire Council wrote letters to Government minister Oliver Letwin, asking for a change in government rules to allow, and finance, an indicative referendum on the recently announced West of England Devolution deal.

After no response was received by any of the leaders, a motion was tabled calling for a more formal council approach to the minister in identical terms.

But on Wednesday’s council meeting, an amendment was added to argue why a referendum would not be necessary, which was confirmed, and passed, and so a referendum would not be pursued.

The deal, which would include £1 billion of investment, will be decided by South Gloucestershire Councils as well as Bristol City, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset on June 29.

Speaking after the meeting, Labour Leader Councillor Pat Rooney said: “I do not know what has happened in 35 short days to cause the Tories to U-turn from asking for a change of rules to allow a referendum to last night’s statement that there is no need or serious argument for a referendum.

“One can only speculate about whether they have been leant on not to cause waves, or they never really backed the idea of poll and only wrote to the minister because we already had.”

A Labour spokesman added: “Whatever the reason, Tory councillors and the Tory Government have joined forces to block local people from having a direct say on the devolution deal, and that is a huge disappointment.”

South Gloucestershire Council leader, conservative Cllr Matthew Riddle responded, saying: “We have been very clear on our position on a referendum for the West of England devolution deal.

“We think that if possible, it would be reasonable to have one, and I have written to Oliver Letwin, the minister responsible for authorising informal polls, asking both for an informal poll to be bolted onto the EU referendum and also for the government to pay for it, as it is government policy.

“The motion Labour put before us on Wednesday night was asking us to do something we already did over a month ago.

“However, the precedent has already been set by the Labour leader of Manchester City Council who argued a referendum wasn’t necessary.

The public can take the opportunity to find out more on the deal and have their say by visiting www.southglos.gov.uk/devolution.