Ministers are set to consider plans for North Somerset to join the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA).
Following a public consultation in which 56.7% of participants backed the idea, North Somerset Council voted to join WECA earlier this month. After the next meeting of the Mayor and council leaders on 5 June, West of England Mayor Helen Godwin and North Somerset Council Leader Mike Bell look set to submit a formal proposal to the national government. The government had previously identified the Westof England as the most appropriate strategic partnership for North Somerset.
An expansion of the combined authority will also support its efforts to become an Established Mayoral Strategic Authority (EMSA), with proposals at next week’s meeting also including the next stage of the region’s push towards that top tier of devolution. Likeplaces such as Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, the West of England would then be able to move to secure an integrated funding settlement – giving more flexibility to best deliver the region’s priorities. This would see budgets fully devolved from Westminsterto the West of England for housing, regeneration, local growth, local transport, skills, retrofit, and employment support.
An extra £1 million has already been allocated by the government to assist with the process of North Somerset joining Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire councils as a full member of the regional authority. This funding is on topof the unprecedented investment announced for the area since May 2025, totalling around £1 billion, with the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act now also giving regional mayors and authorities continue to gain new powers and funding. Leading anEMSA, the Mayor of the West of England would gain the ‘Right to Request’ additional powers from government through a formal process introduced by the new law.
The government has also committed that, should the expansion proceed, future funding will “take account of an expanded WECA geography and population”: likely increasing future allocations of funding transport improvements and a major new national housing fund. North Somerset joiningwould add 23% to the combined authority’s population, to a total of 1.225 million, bringing the benefits of devolution to another almost quarter of a million more people and further strengthening the voice of our part of the world. Altogether, the West hasthe strongest recent economic growth of any region in the country (including London) and has grown at four times the national average since 2019.
Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:
“Council leaders and I, backed by people across the West, want to work even more closely together as a complete region – adding to projects like the £200 million reopening of the Portishead Line. North Somerset becoming a full member of the combined authoritywill only further amplify the West Country’s voice, helping secure more funding to make an even bigger difference for residents.
“The Devolution Act, and plans for us to keep more of the taxes already raised here, are helping continue our strong progress in catching up to other regions. As we make the case for more control of our funding and how it is spent, this is an important stepforwards for the West of England.”
Councillor Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council said:
“This is a significant moment and opportunity for North Somerset. By joining the combined authority, we can strengthen our voice and help secure the investment and opportunities our communities need.
“Just as importantly, we want to help shape a partnership that is open, accountable, and genuinely led by the people it serves. I’m looking forward to continuing work with the Mayor and neighbouring leadersto build a better region.”
Councillor Kevin Guy, Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council; Councillor Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council and Deputy Mayor of the West of England; Councillor Maggie Tyrrell, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council; and Councillor Ian Boulton,Co-Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said in a joint statement:
“It is vital for more decisions about our region to be made here, to help continue to make life better for people around the West – including North Somerset.
“We can do more when we work together across council borders: from delivering new homes and improving transport to securing greater influence and investment now and in the future. This is a really exciting time for the West of England.”
North Somerset Council is expected to become a member of the Combined Authority as soon as the government’s process is concluded either later this year or early in 2027. North Somerset residents will then be able to vote in the next West of England Mayoralelection in May 2029.
