Council leaders unite against merger and elected mayor for Shropshire

Shropshire Council has voted to oppose the idea of a combined authority under an elected mayor, while Telford & Wrekin Council leader, Shaun Davies will ask the authority to back a similar motion this week – saying there are "no circumstances" where it would be in the "best interests" of its residents.

The opposition comes as authorities across the country will have to consider devolution deals from the government as part of a way to access potentially millions of pounds in levelling up funds.

In a letter rejecting Shropshire Council's bid for levelling up money last month, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said he wanted to hold discussions over a "combined authority model", sparking suggestions the Government wants both the county's councils to merge.

Putting forward her motion at a meeting of Shropshire's full council, leader Councillor Lezley Picton said: “As soon as the information was released from the Government about the latest county deals and levelling up bids, and the moment elected mayors or governors were mentioned, my inbox exploded.

“Pretty much every single response I had was, ‘What is that going to offer the people of Shropshire?’

“We work very well with Telford & Wrekin, we actually share some services with Telford & Wrekin, and we also work well with our other partners.

“This council is not in favour of merging with another authority and this council doesn’t think that the addition of a directly-elected mayor or governor will add any benefit to the residents of Shropshire.”

Seconding the motion, Councillor Cecilia Motley, portfolio holder for communities, said: “I think the government is slightly off the mark in suggesting that this would be a good arrangement for two unitary authorities.

“I don’t think this is in any way a development which is going to be suitable either for a large rural county like Shropshire or a rather smaller, rather more concentrated authority like Telford & Wrekin.

“As the leader has pointed out we already work collaboration with Telford & Wrekin as well as with our other neighbours Hereford and Worcester, and we don’t want to be tied down to having to work just with them.

“This would be a thoroughly restrictive model to have to work to, and neither Telford & Wrekin nor Shropshire Council in any way sees the benefit of an extra layer of bureaucracy as would be produced by having to have a mayor or governor.”

The motion was overwhelmingly supported, while members of the Labour group abstained.

Councillor Davies will present his motion to at Telford & Wrekin's full council meeting on Thursday.

It reads: “Telford & Wrekin Council reaffirms its strong objection to any merger with Shropshire Council and opposes the government’s proposal of an elected mayor for Shropshire.

“There are no circumstances where a merger or an elected mayor of Shropshire is in the best interests of our residents of Telford & Wrekin.

“On behalf of our residents we will not consent to such a move.

“A Telford & Wrekin Council, under a Labour administration, is on the side of our residents and there are no circumstances where such a merger or an elected mayor of Shropshire is acceptable for our residents.

“Telford & Wrekin Council will continue to put Telford and Wrekin first.”