Dorset Council asked to support joint devolution talks

Dorset Council is seeking to progress talks with neighbouring authorities about a potential joint devolution bid.

The council's leader previously said he had informal discussions with fellow leaders about pursuing devolved status.

Devolution involves the transfer of statutory powers and funding from national to local government.

A report that calls for councillors to back the pursuit of such a deal, including working with other councils, will be discussed on Thursday.

In July, council leader Spencer Flower said he had spoken to the leaders of number of other councils about the potential for joint working on devolution.

The latest report says the council aspires to "work with Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership to bid for a county deal agreement with the government".

But it also says, because the authority has a population of less than 500,000, it was "prudent" to engage in informal discussions with "all other councils within the immediate vicinity".

Economic growth and levelling up councillor Simon Gibson said: "We can't do this alone, so we are seeking the broader support of elected members to progress this work and continue exploring the possibilities with other councils."

Mr Gibson said south west England was "unique" and "with its own challenges" that could not be completely addressed by national policy.

"Devolution will place the future of many of the services we deliver firmly in our control so that we can do what is right for our communities," he added.

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