Criticism as Shropshire Council yet to bid for devolved powers

Nearly 40 authorities across England have answered a call from ministers to put in a bid for more control over issues in their area such as housing and transport, which could see council bosses making key decisions instead of politicians at Whitehall - but Shropshire is one of a handful that has not.

However, Shropshire Council leader Keith Barrow has defended holding fire, saying a "strategic decision" to apply in a second or third wave bid will save time and money rather than rushing in with a speculative bid like other councils.

With Telford & Wrekin, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Cheshire and Warrington all submitting bids Andy Boddington, Liberal Democrat councillor for Ludlow North, criticised Shropshire Council over what he called a "lack of vision".

He said: "Our county is surrounded by bidders - but our county leaders didn't bid, either in collaboration with a neighbour or on their own.

"Ministers have offered us a huge opportunity to take on greater responsibility locally for our own destinies but Shropshire Council hasn't even taken the first step of submitting an outline bid.

"Devolution could give us greater control over skills, housing, transport, and perhaps also health and social care, and the funding to go with it. We could retain all the money from local business rates, not just half as at present.

"We need to take control of our own destinies. Almost everywhere else in England is hungry to do so. So why aren't we?" he asked.

Councillor Barrow said other authorities had spent much staff time, and committed funding "in the millions", to develop their bids, but he did not think such a speculative approach was a good use of public funding.

Instead, he said, Shropshire Council was supporting the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership to come forward with a proposal across Shropshire, Herefordshire and Telford, as well as talking to neighbouring councils about maximising the potential of current and planned transport infrastructure.

He said: "I have written to the minister to confirm that we are very positive towards the potential of the opportunities and to assure him that we will continue to work with our partners on producing a well thought through and robust proposal before, and indeed 'if', we make any bid.

"We will take our time to get this right, whilst we support and learn from those authorities who have made a bid in the first round.

"As I look at the bids submitted so far, there is a great deal of duplication of ideas. Already, maybe as a result of seeing what councils have requested, government are considering joining up blue light services, integrating health and social care and also enabling authorities to keep 100 per cent of additional business rates.

"So far for Shropshire it seems the more we wait the better it gets."