Decision details

To agree a partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Gloucestershire County Council to demonstrate support for a level two devolution county deal for Gloucestershire.

As part of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023, upper tier authorities were identified as the lead councils for devolution of powers and resources under what is referred to as a level two deal from HM Government, and invited to submit expressions of interest. In Gloucestershire’s case this is Gloucestershire County Council.  The deal is expressly concerned with the transfer of powers between HM Government and Local Authorities, and does not involve the transfer of powers between different tiers of local government.

To support the delivery terms of the level two deal for Gloucestershire, an MOU was developed between the County Council and the respective District Councils in Gloucestershire to clarify two key areas relating to use of UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and economic development actions. The MOU sets out that Gloucester City Council will, among other matters, continue to have oversight and control over its proportionate share of any future UKSPF provided to Gloucestershire County Council, and that matters relating to the County Council’s use of land assembly or compulsory purchase powers under the devolution deal will also require agreement of Gloucester City Council where the City Council is the owner or controller of the land in question, or where the City Council is the relevant planning authority. In summary, the MOU helps to recognises the partnership between the County Council and the City Council and the position and powers of District authorities within a level two county deal.

No other options were considered as the County Council is the upper tier authority and District Councils cannot negotiate themselves or be formal parties to level two devolution deals. The MOU therefore is the only reasonable mechanism to recognise and set out how the partnership between the County Council and District Councils in Gloucestershire will operate within the level two County Deal framework set out by HM Government.