Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“I’m glad to see that devolution is front-and-centre of the national conversation. The West Country has to be at the heart of places getting more powers and more funding. That must be the case as the only expanding combined authority, with North Somersetjoining, and as we push towards Established Strategic Authority status.
“As the country’s fastest-growing regional economy over the last five years, we can help power a bright future. The foundations for that have already been built, with the English Devolution & Community Empowerment Act now the law of the land. We have seenhistoric steps forward on devolution over recent months, with commitments to enable mayors to introduce overnight visitor levies and to retain some of the taxes raised from our communities.
“In this new chapter, our region now has a proper seat at the table. Our voice is now being heard and, just this spring, we brought together mayors and ministers here for the first time. Already, we have set out our ambitious targets for new jobs and newhomes. Through Kids Go Free, more than a million pounds is back in local families’ pockets – ahead of the £100 million national roll-out this August.
“But more is needed to give people hope. Over the months ahead, we will be proudly making the case in Westminster and beyond at every opportunity to secure the investment that our region deserves – with a new £17 billion Investment Prospectus – and makea difference for communities. Together, we can deliver change that people across the West of England can really see and feel.”
