The Council was scheduled to discuss options for devolution in West Northamptonshire, a significant topic that could shape the future governance and economic development of the region. The meeting's agenda also included standard procedural items and announcements.

Devolution Options for West Northamptonshire

The primary item scheduled for discussion was the Devolution options for West Northamptonshire. This topic, detailed in a comprehensive report pack, focused on the potential benefits and risks of West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) becoming a Foundation Strategic Authority¹. The report outlined that devolution offers an opportunity for increased growth and investment by transferring powers and funding from central government to local leaders.

The report highlighted that WNC had previously expressed interest in forming a Strategic Mayoral Authority with North Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, and Milton Keynes, but this proposal did not progress due to a lack of consensus among all six authorities. Following a subsequent invitation from the government in February 2026 for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for Foundation Strategic Authorities, this report aimed to appraise the available options for future devolution.

The report recommended that the Council agree with the principle of devolution and progress towards establishing a Foundation Strategic Authority. Specifically, it suggested submitting an EOI for a South Midlands / South Midlands Plus geography, while also expressing interest in establishing a Northamptonshire Foundation Strategic Authority and remaining open to expanding this footprint should opportunities arise. This recommendation was made in light of the government's aim to achieve devolution across the majority of England by the end of the current Parliament and the potential for West Northamptonshire to miss out on significant investment if it does not engage with these devolution opportunities. The report also noted the mandatory duty to produce a Spatial Development Strategy² by spring 2029, and proposed that the Council's consultation response on this matter should align with its EOI for a Foundation Strategic Authority.

The report detailed various types of devolution available, including Foundation Strategic Authorities and Mayoral Strategic Authorities, and outlined the requirements for devolution, such as geographic scale and sensible economic geographies. It also compared the powers and funding available at different levels of devolution. The implications of not pursuing devolution were also considered, including the risk of devolution being imposed by Ministerial Directive and missing out on significant investment funds.

The report presented several options for the Council to consider, including doing nothing, expressing interest in a South Midlands Foundation Strategic Authority, expressing interest in a Northamptonshire Foundation Strategic Authority with openness to expansion, or linking into an existing devolution geography. While a South Midlands footprint was considered economically sensible, the lack of full consensus among constituent authorities made it unlikely to be supported by the government at that time. Therefore, Option 3, expressing interest in a Northamptonshire Foundation Strategic Authority while remaining open to a broader footprint, was considered the most prudent approach.

The report also touched upon the implications of pursuing devolution, including financial, legal, environmental, community, and consultation aspects. It noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had not had sufficient time to review the proposals due to the short timescale.

The English Devolution White Paper, published in December 2024, was appended to the report, providing a broader context for the government's devolution agenda. This paper outlines the government's vision for a permanent shift of power from Westminster to local leaders, aiming for universal devolution coverage across England. It details the proposed architecture for Strategic Authorities, including Foundation and Mayoral levels, and sets out the powers, functions, and funding available under the Devolution Framework. The White Paper also discusses the importance of local government reform, community empowerment, and improving accountability and capacity within local authorities.