THE Leader of Somerset Council has expressed his scepticism towards a proposed devolution deal with Dorset and Wiltshire Councils, citing a lack of communication from government.

The proposed ‘Heart of Wessex’ devolution deal would see all three councils work closely together to unlock greater power and resources for the area. The deal is not intended to be a merger of the local authorities, but could be seen as having some of the answers to the challenges facing Somerset Council.

In late September, a joint statement was issued by the leaders of Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire Councils, Cllr Nick Ireland, Cllr Bill Revans, and Cllr Richard Clewer.

The statement said: “We have had constructive discussions and recognise that, while each council has its own unique aspirations, there is a shared belief that working together can provide a strong foundation for devolution.”

“Clearer guidance is now needed from the government on how it intends to complete the devolution process in full, providing more details on the desired minimum population for any devolution footprint.”

But Leader of Somerset Council, Cllr Bill Revans, has told the Somerset County Gazette he’s sceptical as he's “heard nothing” from central government.

He said: “We only had Wiltshire and Dorset to work with, and we were invited by government to put in expression of interest. Since then, we’ve heard nothing.”

“The reality is that I don’t know what it is. The closest devolution example we have is the West of England Combined Authority, and I don’t think that is a model that will work for us here in Somerset.”

He continued: “We’ve seen how it has worked well in places like Greater Manchester. But a cookie cutter approach won’t work in the South West. A single-council devolution deal simply won’t work.”

"In addition, I equally don’t think that a directly elected Mayor is suitable. We have the potential for something more ambitious across the South West.”

In its 2024 Manifesto, the Labour Party pledged to deepen devolution settlements for existing Combined Authorities and “widen devolution” to more areas, encouraging local authorities to come together and take on new powers.

The vast majority of devolution deals were signed over a decade ago, granting further powers to areas such as Cornwall, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands.