Swindon Labour welcomes Budget and Thames Valley devolution breakthrough

The announcement that the Thames Valley devolution scheme is back on track has been welcomed by Swindon Borough Council Labour & Co-operative Group Leader Cllr Jim Robbins.

Cllr Robbins spoke after hearing that the scheme, involving Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Swindon, partially derailed earlier this year when some local authorities objected to Swindon’s presence, was back on course after these differences were ironed out.
The scheme could lead to billions of pounds in new investment for all communities concerned.
Cllr Robbins said: “I'm absolutely delighted to hear that the Thames Valley devolution agreement has been announced!
“This is massive news for Swindon and will help us to grow the local economy and transform the town.
”I'm hugely proud to have arranged the first meeting of the leaders of the new region at Lydiard Park Hotel a few years ago and delighted that Swindon is a key part of the new area.
“The Thames Valley is already a key part of the UK economy, and the new powers and money coming in will turbocharge that economy and really help us deliver growth in every postcode!”
Cllr Robbins also hailed the Budget, and notably the Chancellor's announcement of more powers for Mayors and local authorities: “We saw at Full Council last week a succession of calls for the Leader of the Council to write to Government on a range of issues.
“Hopefully, this can stop as the Labour Government allows us to move to be able to make more decisions locally and really manage our own affairs.
“Whilst leading the Council, I could already feel the change from the Conservative Government to the Labour Government, as we were given more money to spend and more opportunity to determine responses locally, and this announcement really speeds it up.
“With a breakthrough on devolution as well, we should be able to really power forward.”
Labour also highlighted the Chancellor’s plans will reduce reliance on fragmented bidding pots hosted in Whitehall, with an initial £285 million in transitional seed funding being allocated by Government next year to support Mayors and local leaders across England to ensure good growth.
Areas which are not yet strategic authorities will also be able to access a share of this money to unlock projects which will contribute to growth in their areas in the transitional period.
The Government will work with Mayors to design a new £1.5 billion borrowing facility from 2028, giving them the access to capital needed to back the local priorities the Government says will build growth in every postcode. For the first time, places transitioning towards devolution will gain access to incubator funding.
The Prime Minister said: “I'm calling time on local leaders going cap in hand to Westminster. That is no way to run a country.
"When I became Prime Minister, I said that if a decision can be made closer to home, it should be.
“Today we’re putting that into practice, shifting power into the hands of the people who know their communities best.”?