Devolution and Growth: “What does our region actually want?”

Last week the Bristol Initiative and Futures West hosted a Devolution and Growth event at Bristol’s Engine Shed, which featured keynote speeches from Andrew Carter, Chief Executive at Centre for Cities, and Stephen Peacock, Chief Executive of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. The event also featured a panel debate with experts across housing, skills, transport and policy.  

The subject of devolution and growth is particularly timely given the recent publication of the Government’s devolution white paper, and the forthcoming election for the next Mayor of the West of England, taking place on the 1st May. The West of England is a strongly performing economy, yet it is grappling with significant challenges like the housing crisis, inadequate transport infrastructure, and a skills shortage.  

Andrew Carter said the region’s profile is “not what it should be” within Whitehall. He explained how it is not among the larger Combined Authorities who will first access integrated funding settlements, which "basically bring lots of pots of money together into one big pot, so they can spend as they see fit on their priorities."   

Andrew Carter cautioned that when there’s a conversation about devolution, “We end up talking about the means rather than the end. Devolution is a means to an end. You have to think about what the end is that you want… What is it that you want to do?”  

A shared ambition 

There was consensus throughout the discussion that the region must pull together, identify and articulate its ambition clearly and concisely. 

Stephen Peacock said “I am genuinely hopeful that the region will thrive if we place a credible growth ambition at the centre of our regional vision. If we can put differences aside and present a unified message in public. If we can keep our promises on delivery. And if we can also demonstrate how we can use the least amount of public money to attract the most private investment.” 

Stephen Peacock also had a clear message to the audience that “my organisation has turned a page, and there is no going back to the old ways. There's just too much work to do.”  

Another area of clear consensus was the need for growth to be inclusive. During the panel debate, which was chaired by Anne Fairweather, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy at Hargreaves Lansdown, we heard this point echoed by all three panellists.  

Annabel Smith, Director of Place and Practice, Centre for Progressive Policy, said “We need to not see growth and equity as two separate conversations and two separate ambitions to be had, which I think we have been at risk of doing in this region previously… We need to be doing things like ensuring we have a really coherent offer, and that we deliver the skills, the health, the early years, the childcare that will actually enable our citizens to go out and be the skilled, productive people that we need to drive productivity.”  

Transport 

Emma Blackham, Service Director for Place Shaping at South Gloucestershire Council, focused on the issue of transport, and how major schemes take between 12 – 15 years from start to finish. Emma said we need to “show that we can deliver, and we are a region to take seriously. That's why we really need to continue to work as hard as we can on our plans for mass transit, as well as the schemes that we're working on around rail enhancements and working with the developments that sit around stations that we plan to reopen.” 

The urgent need to address the region’s poor transport was something Stephen Peacock underlined in his speech “We are now the most congested place in the UK outside of London, and as our landmass is largely rural, we also need to find different innovative transport solutions to connect rural communities and market towns to allow people to access the opportunities that undeniably do exist here.” and “Bristol could soon be the largest city in Europe without any form of mass transit system in delivery.”  

Housing 

Victor da Cunha, Chief Executive Officer at Curo Group, explained how the UK is in the midst of the worst housing crisis it has ever seen, with 162,000 children living in temporary accommodation. “We need to make sure that housing is at the cornerstone of devolution. I'm a massive fan of the possibilities, because at a national level, while the government is focused on big issues around defence and immigration and other areas that will clearly demand resources, devolution gives us an opportunity to really focus on what matters for local people… Housing will not solve the challenge of the economic growth we need, but without adequately housing our local people, it will be a blocker to that economic growth.”  

Skills 

Prof. Sir Steve West, Vice-Chancellor, President and CEO of The University of the West of England, Bristol, said “I believe this region may have arrived at its tipping point. I think now we're starting to see there are some great opportunities, but only if we align, collaborate and then deliver, and that means everybody aligning and collaborating and delivering: Politicians, the offices, business, public sector, private sector. If we can do that, then we'll start to make a difference.”  

Sir Steve advocated thinking in an ambitious way about education “from cradle to grave” and the pressing need to close the skills gap now, and in the future. “We'll never build the houses, or the infrastructure unless we've got skilled construction workers. We know that's a problem now, but we also know that the future is going to be inventing completely new industry sectors, completely new technologies, and we need to be preparing workforces for that.” 

Summary 

Stephen Peacock explained how the West of England’s case for investment is clear and our track record is good. He also reminded the audience that “we are on track here to deliver a massive boost to the region's economy at Bristol; Temple Quarter [will deliver] 20,000 jobs, at least 10,000 new homes, a new university campus, and an innovation district, and tomorrow sees the launch of our procurement for a private sector partner for Temple Quarter. My organisation recently confirmed its intention to enter into a strategic partnership with Homes England.” 

This event, and January’s Festival of Flourishing Regions, demonstrate a shared consensus and enthusiasm for working together to advance our region, and to focus on the “end” rather than the “means”. This is a core focus for Futures West, which was launched by Business West just over a year ago to tackle our region’s long-term challenges to raise productivity, prosperity and innovation. Business West and Futures West are committed to working with partners to boost our region’s profile within government.