Community event at the Bristol Pavilion
11 March 2015
Tomorrow, a debate is being broadcast on radio live from the Bristol County Ground looking at the impact ‘City Devolution’ could have on our community.
More than 90 of Bristol’s leaders are heading to the Bristol Pavilion on Thursday 12th March as part of the ‘City Devolution and Communities’ debate, organised by Voscur in association with the Bristol Festival of Ideas.
City devolution has been the hot topic in politics over the last few months. Devolution is about maximising current local tax and revenue raising powers whilst at the same time decentralising revenue programmes currently managed by Whitehall.
But what are the opportunities and risks for the voluntary and community sector across the West of England?
This will be the question considered at the event chaired by Alex Marsh of Bristol University and broadcast live on radio as part of an extended Onelove breakfast show with Ujima & BCfm.
The Mayor George Ferguson will be joined by a range of leaders from the community including Joanna Holmes, CEO Barton Hill settlement; Chris Head, CEO West of England Rural Network; Marti Burgess, inner city social entrepreneur; Matthew Symonds, Co-Chair Greater Bedminster Community Partnership; Mark Graham CEO, For All Healthy Living Centre Weston-super-Mare; and Sandy Hore-Ruthven, CEO Creative Youth Network.
Voscur spokesperson Paul Hassan says: “Voscur is keen to ensure the voluntary and community sector are fully engaged in the debate around city devolution and that any opportunities for change of governance take on board the need for greater community democracy and enhanced neighbourhood economic development.”
Discussions are already taking place between Bristol and the three unitary authorities in the West of England sub region (the former Avon County), along with the other city regions of England, to claim significant new powers and devolved resources from central government.
This follows developments in policy from the Government, Opposition and the Scottish referendum on devolution last year.
The Government has announced a series of deals with city regions on devolution of powers and agreements in principle to work together as combined authorities.
In addition to Greater Manchester, which has the first devolution agreement with Government, deals are being discussed with the other core cities.
The Government has indicated that it would welcome a commitment from the four unitary authorities in the West of England to form a combined authority to secure devolved powers for strategic functions including transport, planning, housing, skills, economic development and health and social care.
