Briony Allen

How the government can support better decision making in mayoral combined authorities | Institute for Government Making England’s ‘devolution revolution’ a reality.

[NEW] How can the government support better decision making in mayoral combined authorities?

Our new report examines the government’s proposed shift to majority voting and the support that is needed to enhance decision making in MCAs

Read in full 👇
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

It's a local - central - local government sandwich this week from @instituteforgov.bsky.social

Following our event on Tuesday on effective decision making in MCAs with @jimmcmahon.co.uk, the PM on the pod yesterday, today we have a new report examining the shift to simple majority voting in MCAs 👇

How the government can support better decision making in mayoral combined authorities | Institute for Government Making England’s ‘devolution revolution’ a reality.

📣New report from me & @brionya.bsky.social

MCAs’ decision-making is often limited by unanimous voting rules

Effective decision making for key strategic plans requires a shift to simple majority voting alongside greater capacity and accountability

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

On 1 May voters will be heading to the polls to elect the mayors of the West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Hull and East Yorkshire, and Greater Lincolnshire.

At the @instituteforgov.bsky.social we have been building a picture of the candidates they will be choosing between. 🧵

This did turn into a reading list as well as a commentary on the webinar, but the team does have great content so please check it out, and hopefully will answer some of the many unanswered questions!

Yesterday the Cabinet Office public bodies team published their 2022/23 ALB report. It's a really interesting and well-visualised piece of work. Check it out here: co-public-bodies.github.io/ALB_Landscap...

@tompope.bsky.social London operating on a different constitutional basis, means that it is easy to extend some powers but harder to extend others.

@rebeccamckee.bsky.social rachet mechanism being set up- very interesting. And the devolve or explain principle - formal request to take on powers.

Devolution and urban regeneration | Institute for Government More mayoral development corporations are key to getting Britain building.

@milliemitchell.bsky.social our resident London expert gets a shout out (she is also an expert on MDCS and recently published a very cool paper, find it here: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...)

@matthewfright.bsky.social timetable qs interesting- when will the Bill come? Once clearer on parliamentary timetable and mechanisms for reorganisation, we will know more.

Boundary alignment tricky- but government has made clear they will factor this into decision making.

Moving onto some of the audience questions

@tompope.bsky.social disappointed that tourist tax wasn't part of the EDWP offer- could be an opportunity to test fiscal devolution.

@rebeccamckee.bsky.social MHCLG not worst offender of small funding pots, not clear how EDWP changes will be implemented.

Local government unitarisation | Institute for Government Unitarisation is a type of local government reorganisation that replaces separate county and district councils with a single tier of local authorities

@matthewfright.bsky.social now on unitarisation, which could be a 'webinar in its own right'. Questions on sequencing have been left unanswered. Wondering what unitarisation means? See www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainer/lo...

More devolution is welcome – but it needs strengthened metro mayor accountability | Institute for Government Current accountability arrangements in England’s mayoral combined authorities are underpowered.

@matthewfright.bsky.social describing the importance of scrutiny reforms- he's written a great comment piece on this very topic www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/devo..., and I've written on it in our response to the EDWP www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/engl...

@rebeccamckee.bsky.social flagging importance of capacity. Analytical and research support so combined authority members can be more certain that the decisions are based on robust evidence and solid principles.
EDWP has good stuff on secondments and the mayoral data council, but further to go.

However, our research found that decisions rarely fell at the voting stage- consensus building behind the scenes was critical. This is likely to still be the case (South Yorkshire for example already requires simple majority + mayor for many decisions, but consensus building has still been critical)

Our project has focused on decision making and voting arrangements on the combined authority boards. EDWP has set out that voting should move to simple majority + mayor, which could remove the current veto power of individual councils over strategic decisions.

@rebeccamckee.bsky.social acknowledges that I have spent the last few months reading MCA constitutions- knowledge that she describes as 'redundant but... sure it will be useful some day' after the EDWP changes

@tompope.bsky.social the focus has been on how mayors can contribute to the government's growth mission but they have roles to play in other missions.

The retrofit pilot has been made more permanent, and is now a commitment in that space.

@tompope.bsky.social duty to develop SDS underpinning local transport plans is also important, and fact mayors will get call in powers (like the mayor of London currently has).

The broad bucket of powers are correct, mayors at that strategic levels can make a set of interrelated decisions.

@tompope.bsky.social it is as much about where is getting new powers as about what those new powers are. Trailblazer agreement with GM, with an integrated pot of funding. Extending this to other mayoralties is perhaps more important than new power announcements-flexibility is important.

How the government can extend devolution to the whole of England | Institute for Government Half of England's population currently is not covered by any form of devolution.

@matthewfright.bsky.social setting out what we mean by 'completing the map'- which he happens to have a whole report on www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...! The Devolution Priority Programme was launched in the EDWP, Matthew sets out some areas he thinks will be first on the gov's list

How the next government should complete the job of English devolution | Institute for Government The next government must extend devolution to 85% of England to deliver meaningful and balanced economic growth.

@akashpaun.bsky.social flags our excellent report (disclaimer, I am a co-author) where we set out how we thought the government should 'complete' English devolution www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/publication/...

@rebeccamckee.bsky.social reflects on the mood in Westminster. Feels like it lacks a 'catchy phrase', but local government reorganisation has had a big splash. It is quite radical, with lots of positive and negative reactions. The diagnosis of the problem seems to have been welcomed.

@tompope.bsky.social was at the launch. There was good representation from the metro mayors and councillors and there was a positive mood, although maybe a feeling there wasn't anything massively new.

@akashpaun.bsky.social, @tompope.bsky.social, @rebeccamckee.bsky.social and @matthewfright.bsky.social are our expert panel, and for the next hour will talk through some of the themes of the English devolution white paper (EDWP). Submit, and upvote, questions you're interested in!

What does Labour’s devolution white paper mean for England? | Institute for Government IfG experts discuss the government's plans to extend devolution across England and the challenges ahead.

If for some reason you're not able to tune into the webinar, I'll be posting some highlights below ✨

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/labour...

What does Labour’s devolution white paper mean for England? | Institute for Government IfG experts discuss the government's plans to extend devolution across England and the challenges ahead.

Make sure to tune into our webinar this morning (9:30-10:30) for our take on the English Devolution white paper and a chance to get your questions answered!

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/event/labour...

In just over an hour- make sure to tune in if you’ve got any English devolution white paper questions!

Nine things we learned from the English devolution white paper | Institute for Government What the white paper does and does not contain, and what challenges lie ahead for the government.

Nine things we learned from the English devolution white paper

The IfG's devolution team explore what the white paper does and does not contain, and what challenges lie ahead for the government www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/engl...

Yesterday I spoke to ITV meridian news about the implications of the new English Devolution White Paper for the South East - drawing on a recent @instituteforgov.bsky.social report

Scottish government to ban WhatsApp for official business The announcement comes after it was revealed ministers deleted messages exchanged during the pandemic.

Interesting move in Scotland - will have to wait and see how it's enforced re personal devices... the UK government would fall apart, I think, if they tried it - but maybe they'll follow suit!

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...