‘Levelling up’ agenda cannot overlook shire counties

A new report has warned the government that it cannot overlook shire counties in its ‘levelling up’ agenda, with productivity in these areas currently lagging behind other parts of the country.

The County Councils Network’s new report, released ahead of the budget, lays bare the economic challenges facing communities in county areas, which cover almost half the population of England. This follows new analysis showing that economic growth and productivity in shire areas is trailing other parts of the country.

For example, growth, as measured by Gross Added Value (GVA), in county areas has lagged behind the rest of the country by 2.5 per cent over the last five years. GVA in the 36 county areas has grown by 14.6 per cent between 2013 and 2018, compared to 16.7 per cent for the rest of England.

In total, 27 of these counties have grown at a rate slower than the rest of the country. The research finds no north-south divide, as the county areas experiencing the some of the smallest economic growth are Herefordshire (5.3 per cent), Oxfordshire (5.6 per cent) and Cumbria (8.2 per cent), Gloucestershire (9.2 per cent), and Wiltshire (9.7 per cent) – showing that one size fits all policies will not work.

The research argues that those county authorities are best placed to deliver change and results on the ground for residents, but they need ‘place-based’ resource, stronger powers, and reforms – tailored to those communities.

Therefore, the Place-based growth – unleashing counties’ role in levelling up England report recommends that significant budgets and powers be devolved down existing county authorities with new duties those councils to convene growth boards alongside a return of strategic planning powers to upper-tier local authorities and greater consideration of the infrastructure needs in shire counties.

It also says the devolution white paper must consider how devolution of powers to county authorities could assist in levelling-up the country. This should include devolving significant budgets and powers down to councils, shaped around existing county authorities and local leadership but recognising the additional complexity in two-tier local authority areas and whether structural changes are required.

Barry Lewis, County Councils Network spokesperson for economic growth, said: “Since the general election, there has been a clear focus on the ‘red wall’ seats that the government has won. But if it wants to genuinely back up its rhetoric and level-up England, then a narrow focus on these areas will not work. The levelling-up agenda cannot bypass and forget about shire counties, with many of these areas experiencing economic growth that is lagging far behind the rest of the country. Communities in the likes of Devon and Cornwall in the South West, to Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands need as much focus on why they have been left behind as the likes of Wokingham and Blyth.
 
“Today’s report underlines that county authorities will have a huge role to play in the success or otherwise of this agenda. These councils know their areas intimately yet are able to deliver change through their investment and influence. They are the main economic players in their communities but need powers and resource – the devolution white paper provides a perfect opportunity for a step-change.”