Commissioner concerned over South West devolution

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Alison Hernandez, has raised concerns over discussions about making a larger South West local authority.

Hernandez said she feared the Isles of Scilly would be neglected if such a proposal was to go through.

Addressing the Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Panel on Friday, she said: "One of the things for me is I am worried about the neglect of the Isles of Scilly in the conversations."

A spokesperson for the Council of the Isles of Scilly said: "The council is monitoring the developments closely and is in discussions with the government on how it may be involved in any future developments."

They added: "The council would like to thank Alison Hernandez for speaking up about the Isles of Scilly, as quite often it is neglected in such discussions on the wider South West."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service reported Hernandez also told the panel that scrutinised her work that she found it "obnoxious" that she has not been included in the conversations about devolving powers from Westminster.

As part of the devolution, Hernandez's role could be swallowed up by an elected mayor who would sit at the head of a large strategic authority covering about 1.5 million residents – if the government approves the concept.

Cornwall, however, has made it clear it will resist merging with Devon and wants to retain its identity.

Devon's biggest authorities, by contrast, including the county council and Plymouth and Torbay's unitary councils, are generally for it, although not all councillors are on board.

The eight smaller districts in Devon have voiced their opposition.

Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans said it made sense to have a South West peninsula authority, as the two counties shared many of the same issues and responsibilities, and would have "a strong voice" in Westminster.

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