Opposition slams 'complete U-turn' of devolution deal

Durham County Council leader Councillor Amanda Hopgood, on behalf of the ruling Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Independent joint administration, announced the council's decision "in principle" to join the wider deal.

She said: “As requested by the Government, we have sent a letter to the Secretary of State to confirm that in principle, we have decided to join the LA6 deal along with the other local authorities in the North East, and agree an LA7 devolution arrangement.

"We now look forward to working with colleagues to deliver a devolution deal that will benefit residents throughout the region.

Cllr Amanda Hopgood. Picture: Northern Echo.

"This approach makes good political and practical sense, and the regional model is also a route that has the backing of business.

"A wider deal will benefit from adding volume to a louder North East voice.

"There will now be further discussions with colleagues in the North East and government.”

Read more: Devolution - Durham decides to go into region-wide 'LA7' deal

Kevan Jones, Labour MP for North Durham, responded today: “I find this decision absolutely remarkable.

"At our last meeting to discuss this with the county’s MPs and cabinet, there was unanimous agreement that Durham should not join in with the LA7 but should go in for a county deal instead.

“One of the most vociferous proponents of this position was Cllr Hopgood and her Liberal Democrat colleagues, but it was also supported by the three Conservative Members of Parliament.

“Cllr Hopgood now needs to explain why she has changed her position completely and what has led to this complete U-turn.

“This decision has been taken behind closed doors and without any consultation and yet will have a profound effect on the future of County Durham.

Labour MP Kevan Jones.

"I strongly believe that this decision is not in the best interests of our county – a position that until this announcement, was one that was shared by the county’s MPs and the council’s cabinet.”

He has written to the council leader saying "no one has been consulted on this" and "the leaders of the LA6 group have been similarly blindsided by this announcement".

He wrote: "I find it unacceptable that you have taken such a major step without any consultation with the county MPs or the public.

"I think you should publicly explain why your strongly held views have changed and also publish the financial implications and governance structure behind these proposals.

"Unlike you and your colleagues, I remain of the position that County Durham should pursue its own county deal rather than creating a mayor covering an area that would stretch all the way from Berwick to Barnard Castle."

Easington Labour MP Grahame Morris said: “The Lib Dem Conservative coalition has misled the public, local representatives and Members of Parliament.

"There was a cross-party consensus that County Durham should pursue our own devolution deal. The chaos at County Hall reflects the chaos in Downing Street – the Conservative Party is not fit to govern locally or nationally.

"I completely oppose these backroom deals, that ignore and sell out the residents of County Durham.

"The Lib Dem Conservative coalition act like the spokesperson for the Truss Government rather than representing the people of County Durham to the Government.

MP Grahame Morris. Picture: Northern Echo. (Image: Contributor)

"The Lib Dem Conservative coalition only exist due to Independents propping up their disastrous decisions. They must now stand up for the people of County Durham and make it clear to the Hopgood/Bell leadership that they will refuse to sanction this disastrous devolution deal that will marginalise County Durham.”

County Durham Labour leader Carl Marshall said: “In a lengthy list of shameful regressive decisions from the shambolic coalition running Durham County Council, this is perhaps the worst. 

“County Durham had within our grasp a once-in-a-generation opportunity to become masters of our own destiny, set our own priorities, address the decline of public services as this Tory Government - enabled by Lib Dems - drained over quarter of a billion pounds from our budget.

"But no, just like the decision to reject the regeneration of Aykley Heads to attract business, this coalition attaches yet another enormous anchor to the growth prospects of our county.

Cllr Carl Marshall. (Image: Northern Echo, Newsquest)

“Labour fervently backed the county deal. We asked residents, and of 623 respondents, 84% said they wanted a county deal. Once again, residents are not just ignored by the coalition, they didn’t even give them any of the options.

“The other six authorities in the North East devolution deal have already stated that County Durham’s delaying and dithering means it will miss out on over £140m in public transport funding -  money that we would have received had we gone it alone!"

In response, Cllr Hopgood said: "To emphasise, this is a decision that DCC’s Joint Administration has taken 'in principle'.

"The detailed discussions with colleagues in the North East and the Government about the devolution arrangement will now proceed in the correct way.

"Cllr Marshall was invited to sit down with DCC cabinet members and officers to discuss the subject at length, and the options available, but he declined that opportunity.

"That’s a shame, as the meeting would have provided him with accurate information that would have been useful for him and his fellow Labour councillors when commenting on the issue.

"As ever, the joint administration welcomes constructive dialogue with County Durham’s MPs."

Read next:

• Durham Council consults on 'staggering £75m cost pressures'
• Leading councillor aims to 'root out waste' in council
• Labour blames coalition for cash woes that could 'bankrupt council in two years'

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