Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: June 18, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED: 1.      That this Council: a)            recognises the huge opportunity for the city that a Strategic Combined Authority with a directly elected Mayor could create, and believes that the devolution of powers, funding, and flexibilities from central government to the local region would bring significant benefits to Milton Keynes and the surrounding areas; b)            agrees that by working with partners and central government there is a significant potential for devolution across several strategically important functions such as strategic planning, infrastructure funding, affordable housing, public transport, skills, health, employment, welfare, service integration and flexible funding which would enable the region to be more responsive to the specific economic and social needs of our population, ensure significant additional capacity for delivery and improve the lives of our residents; and c)             understands that our unique geographical location means that there are a number of different potential local authorities combinations our council could work with to form a Strategic Mayoral Combined Authority, but that the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) area comprising of Bedford Borough Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, Luton Borough Council and Milton Keynes City Council offers the best opportunity to enable the greatest potential benefits to our city and region. 2.             That this Council notes: a)            the BLMK region is one of the most exciting economic areas in the country, at the heart of the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor; b)            Milton Keynes is already the fastest growing city in the country with the 7th largest economy in England but has the potential to grow even faster with the right level of infrastructure investment over the coming decades to become the pivotal hub of the OxCam Corridor and deliver growth that will benefit local residents and the whole country; c)             the BLMK region has many nationally significant projects, including Universal Studios UK, the expansion of London Luton airport and a number of potential next generation New Towns that will require local authorities to work together to deliver their full potential, but a Strategic Mayoral Combined Authority would help deliver powers, funding and capacity to support delivery that would not be otherwise available; d)            the BLMK region has the highest level of overlap and alignment with the Milton Keynes economy and the greatest potential to ensure a more cohesive footprint to enhance local growth; e)            the BLMK region has the best alignment with our travel to work area and provides the greatest opportunity to deliver a functioning Integrated Public Transport Network; f)              that the local NHS Integrated Care Board currently covers the BLMK area and has strong, well established, working relationships with the four local authorities creating a significant potential to better integrate health and social care services, but that there is a risk that the potential merger of ICBs to create fewer, larger, sub-national ICB footprints means that the specific needs of BLMK and opportunities will be harder to articulate without a powerful Combined Authority voice; g)            that the BLMK region has the greatest level of alignment on issues such as planning, housing, affordability and infrastructure requirements and a Strategic Mayoral Combined Authority would ensure the regional is best placed to deliver greater levels of co-ordinated strategic infrastructure and funding; h)            that the BLMK region offers the greatest potential for future service reconfiguration, such as fire and policing, which could improve service delivery and benefit Milton Keynes; and i)              that the existing local authorities in the BLMK region will continue to function as separate sovereign unitary local councils with their existing statutory functions, and devolution should bring new or enhanced powers, freedoms and flexibilities drawn down from central government to enhance and improve the capacity and capability to deliver local change as constituent parts of a Combined Authority. 3.             That this Council therefore believes that: a)            a Strategic Mayoral Combined Authority (SMCA) on the BLMK footprint is the best current option to deliver the greatest level of benefit to the residents and businesses of Milton Keynes; b)            an SMCA on the BLMK footprint would deliver the highest level of synergy and benefit for Milton Keynes; c)             the BLMK region offers the best combination of local authorities to deliver an economic, social and geographically cohesive, sustainable and well-functioning devolved authority; d)            the scale and ambition of the BLMK region requires a specific and focussed SMCA to ensure cohesive alignment and delivery, which would not be possible with other combinations due to the higher risk of a more polycentric, less well defined, geographic, economic and social focus; and e)            the current BLMK footprint already provides the scale required to form a functioning SMCA but existing planned growth, and the additional potential of the area, provides one of the most exciting opportunities to deliver a devolved regional government of national and international significance. 4.             That this Council agrees: a)            a Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) Strategic Mayoral Combined Authority is Milton Keynes City Council’s preferred devolution option; b)            that Cabinet should seek a devolution settlement with partners and government on this footprint at the earliest opportunity; c)             that Cabinet should not seek to enter discussions for an SMCA with any other combination of authorities unless told formally by government that a BLMK region would not be agreed; d)            that Cabinet ensure current working arrangements on functions that may transition to an SMCA align, as best as possible, with a BLMK footprint, for example by reviewing the functions currently operated by the South Midlands Authorities; e)            that Cabinet works with the government and partners to ensure that there is a clear and strategic operational framework of how existing and new SMCAs will work together on delivering the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor; f)              that Cabinet ensures that appropriate and timely updates on progress be made to the Communities and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee; g)            to engage with local residents, businesses and other stakeholders to communicate the potential benefits of a BLMK SMCA and help avoid misunderstanding and misinformation; and h)            that the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, notify all partners of the content of this motion.