Devolution squabbling sinks further on the Humber

POLITICAL devolution in the Humber is such a sensitive subject that there is not even consensus that it is a good thing, as the reissuing of a press statement has highlighted.

Tensions between its local authorities and other organisations are long-standing and reared up again when the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was forced to change and re-send a press statement it had released following a board meeting – even though the statement did not mention any areas by name.

The LEP’s statement had originally read: “At the request of local authority leaders, the Board has agreed that the LEP will lead the development of policy proposals for devolution that would benefit the Humber area.”

Four hours later, this had been watered down to say the proposals to be developed would be “for devolved powers relevant to the economic development of the Humber area.”

A second change reinforced that any devolution discussions would be focused solely on economic matters as “the Board’s priority is to ensure that policy proposals are fully worked up that can support all parts of the Humber area” became “that can support the economic development opportunities for all parts of the Humber area.”

The changed statement also promoted business to the top of the list of stakeholders who would be involved, which had initially read “local authorities, business, education and other stakeholders”.

Regardless, the work undertaken by the LEP will steer clear of the most sensitive question of all – the geographic boundaries of the area that would have powers devolved to it.

The statement, unchanged in the second version, said: “Discussions with neighbouring areas will continue with a view to finalising the proposed geographical coverage and governance arrangements of any deal(s) in due course.”