Government is 'holding a gun to Shropshire's head' for levelling up funds - councillor

Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin Councils were left frustrated after being snubbed for 'levelling up' cash, and it has since emerged that future bids may require the creation of a ‘combined authority’ for the area. That could potentially be made up of both Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin councils, or by joining with other authorities.

Mr Gove, secretary for housing, communities and local government, wrote to Shropshire Council leader Lezley Picton to suggest talks over the council’s plans in the context of “our plans for a new form of combined authority model”.

The suggestion has been met with strong objection from Shropshire's Lib Dem leader, David Vasmer.

He said: “The Government appears to be holding a gun to Shropshire’s head.

“We are being held to ransom. Either you enter into negotiations for a mayor to cover the entirety of the old county of Shropshire, or Mr Gove will not even consider us for any levelling up funds.

“We are told that the Government is in favour of giving power back to local communities but they are doing the very opposite. Here in Shropshire, we don’t want the government in Westminster telling us how Shropshire or Telford should be run.

“We deserve fair consideration of our proposals for levelling up funds rather than being thrown into yet another debate about local government re-organisation just twelve years after all the district councils in Shropshire were abolished.

“This Government appears to be taking the people of Shropshire for granted.

“It must live up to the promises it made when it set up the Fairer Funding review in 2017. Despite its so-called commitment to give more money to underfunded rural areas like Shropshire, the council’s funding from central government has been cut back ever since.

“Shropshire people deserve better.

“In other parts of England, there has been agreement that the creation of a powerful mayor could be beneficial. There has been no such agreement in our county. Cornwall has been given devolved powers and finances without having to appoint a mayor.

“All political parties in Shropshire are agreed that the current arrangement of two unitary councils makes a lot of sense. Shropshire Council takes the lead in the more rural areas and Telford & Wrekin focuses on its more urban communities.

“There is no demand from residents for an overarching mayor that would take powers away from our existing councils. There is no demand from residents for merging the two councils.

“What residents and opposition councillors are demanding is that this county gets it rightful share of levelling up and other national funding."

Shropshire Council has said it does not want an elected mayor for the county, or a merger with Telford & Wrekin Council.