A report aimed at getting the region’s political leaders to stop squabbling and get along has exposed a broken system at the West of England Combined Authority (Weca). No one ever agreed what the regional body was for in the first place when it was set up in 2017, let alone now following a series of high-profile spats, embarrassingly lengthy unplanned breaks in public meetings and rows over the organisation’s entire purpose, and urgent action is needed to fix it, experts say.
The fact-finding report by Solace (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives), which was brought in to do a “peer review challenge” after external auditors found five significant weaknesses in Weca’s value-for-money arrangements, makes 17 initial recommendations. They include not only ways that metro mayor Dan Norris, who heads Weca, and the leaders of its three councils – Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset – can work together better but a call for the combined authority to expand to include North Somerset and also resume its abandoned housing masterplan.
Earlier this month it emerged Weca has been placed on a government “watchlist” because of the “strained relationships” auditors Grant Thornton found between Mr Norris, fellow Labour mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees, South Gloucestershire leader Conservative Cllr Toby Savage and B&NES leader Lib Dem Cllr Kevin Guy. Papers to the latest Weca committee on Friday, March 17, included a letter from Local Government Minister Lee Rowley to the West of England mayor with a thinly veiled threat that Whitehall “best value” inspectors could be sent in to sort Weca if it doesn’t do so itself.
Read more: WECA placed on government 'watchlist' after council leaders' rows
He wrote: “I remain concerned about the scale of challenges the authority faces. The issues around governance, partnership relations and instability within the senior officer team are particularly concerning and need to be addressed quickly.
“On January 24, the government issued Best Value Notices to two authorities, a new approach of engagement and monitoring of authorities of concern. It is in circumstances such as those which Weca find themselves where we will consider if a notice is necessary to ensure the improvements are delivered.
“I wish to see a robust, wide ranging and timely peer review from Solace. I will look to the Solace review before considering if any further action is necessary.”
Bristol Cllr Ed Plowden (Green, Windmill Hill) told the Weca committee that the report outlined a “long list of fundamental weaknesses” including a lack of strategy, operating principles and clarity about core purpose, as well as leadership problems and a need to update the combined authority’s constitution, which sets out how it works. “However, it appears that despite warm words, there is a level of denial about the problems,” he said.
“Without a clear strategic sense of direction, the organisation will continue to be at risk of fighting a series of tactical running battles. The confrontational approach between leaders continues, with further blame and divisive comments being played out in public.
“With hundreds of millions of pounds of investment to be delivered over very short timescales, this is not harmless political game-playing, it is essential that we see a change of attitude and that steps are taken to address it urgently.” Bristol mayor Mr Rees said: “As organisations we should always be in a permanent state of self-reflection, so it’s a timely external intervention that gives us that space to think about who we are and what we’re here to do.”
B&NES Council deputy leader Cllr Richard Samuel told the meeting: “I don’t think we should see this as a threat in any sense, it’s something that grown-up organisations look at, reflect on and do something about. What we don’t want is this report sitting on a shelf somewhere gathering dust.
“It needs to be moved forward and needs moving forward together. As unitary authorities and Weca we probably have six months in which to turn this around.”
Cllr Savage said: “We absolutely need to come together to jointly agree what our shared objectives are for the region, recognising we are in a far more changed landscape than when we first created the combined authority. This work is an important shot in the arm for us to get on and have those shared conversations and to agree a shared vision for the region.”
Solace’s recommendations include giving council leaders special responsibilities, called portfolios, at Weca, such as environment, economy and culture, while Mr Norris should stay in charge of housing and transport. Its report said: “What is clear is that there has been no significant conversation since 2017 as to the core philosophical purpose of Weca.
“Interviewees felt that ‘common purpose’ had not been explored and that roles and responsibilities and ‘powers’ are not understood. This has resulted in confusion between strategic governance and day to day transactional activity and as a result, fundamental behaviours have been broken and all have a voice in every domain.”
Solace will make a more detailed report following work on its recommendations.
Read next:
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Bristol region's political leaders promise to get along better following damning report
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