Agenda item

The Committee will be updated on the Levelling Up White Paper and the implications for Buckinghamshire Council.

Contributors:

Cllr Martin Tett, Leader of the Council

Lisa Michelson, Service Director, Economic Growth and Regeneration

The Chairman welcomed Cllr Martin Tett, Leader of the Council and Lisa Michelson, Service Director, Economic Growth and Regeneration to the meeting.

The Chairman invited the Leader to highlight the key points from the report on Levelling Up and the following main points were noted:

• The Government had stood on a ‘Levelling Up’ platform at the 2019 general election but the policy was not clearly defined in terms of delivery and the Covid 19 pandemic has delayed its development.
• In September 2021, Michael Gove replaced Robert Jenrick as the Secretary of State for the renamed Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and in February 2022, the Levelling Up White Paper was published, setting out a broad range of ways in which the levelling up agenda would be taken forward.
• The White Paper sets out four key outcomes – Boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards; Spread opportunities and improve public services; restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging and Empower local leaders and communities.
• The policy is underpinned by five mutually reinforcing pillars, namely: reshaping Central Government decision making; Empower local decision making; The role of data, monitoring and evaluation; Transparency and Accountability and 12 medium term missions.
• Reshaping Government decision making was important to note, as previously Government has evaluated projects in terms of capital return which was biased towards projects based in the South and South East of the country.
• The 12 missions are very broad in scope and are to be delivered by 2030.  The 12 missions encompass the following: Employment; Research and Development; Transport; Broadband; Education; Health inequalities; Skills training; Crime; Home ownership; Wellbeing; Pride in place and Devolution.
• Devolution is about devolving more decision making to local government but it has been difficult to pin down exactly what this means. The White Paper outlines a Devolution Framework with three tiers. Buckinghamshire currently lies in Tier 2, with Tier 3 only open to areas with directly elected Mayors.  The Leader commented that he believed that Buckinghamshire could be categorised as Tier 2 plus.
• Buckinghamshire Council had not been awarded a county deal as part of the first tranche but the Leader would continue to lobby for inclusion in future rounds. However, it was noted from the first tranche of devolution deals that no additional funding new funding was attached.  Buckinghamshire was in a strong position with a well-developed Growth deal proposal and in the meantime, Cabinet was considering how the Council could address levelling up issues locally.

The Chairman invited Members’ questions. In response to questions and during the subsequent discussions, the following main points were noted:

• A Member questioned what the Council could do to address inequalities when Government did not see Buckinghamshire as a priority at this time.  The Leader commented that the global financial situation, which was now exacerbated by the war in Ukraine was contributing to a cost of living crisis.  The Council’s Helping Hands scheme had received £2.4m of government funding to help to support the most vulnerable and the Council was also currently administering the £150 Council Tax rebate.  Additional support measures were currently being considered.
• The White Paper was trying to address long term structural issues. Although a county deal might not deliver substantial new funding it could provide more freedoms and flexibilities for the Council which would be advantageous.
• The Council was also using one off Capital investment in town centre regeneration for example to support job creation and pride in place and the Council could also consider partnership working with the private sector to deliver more transformative projects.
• A Member commented that he would like to see more innovation with regards to the Council raising its own finance and more opportunities for the Council to invest its reserves more effectively.  The Leader commented that the Council was financially strong due to strong governance and a prudent approach but agreed that there were limits in terms of how money could be raised.

The Chairman thanked the Leader and Lisa Michelson for attending the meeting and answering members’ questions.