Evidencing mayoral collaboration

Enable our regions to drive maximum value from national ambitions

In its current form, the mayoral duty to collaborate in Clause 22 of the Bill has no detail on how the benefits of collaboration will be assessed, measured, or evidenced. This collaboration should relate to an area of competence, and should benefit the “economic, social or environmental wellbeing” of residents.  Without further detail it remains unclear how residents can be assured that collaboration requests are being made with their quality of life and future in mind.

The Government has recognised the importance of aligning and coordinating strategies and plans across sectors at a national scale, with the 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy setting out the intention to produce national spatial priorities, the role of the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), the new national infrastructure spatial tool, and place-based business cases. The question is, why aren’t we using these plans and strategies to form the evidence base for collaboration?

The RTPI have also been advocating for a National Spatial Framework, acting as an overarching cross-sector approach to support the resolution of land use conflicts and enabling co-location to help identify national and regional priorities.

It is essential that requests for collaboration are made with constituents and their needs at the forefront, compelling authorities to have regard to the relevant national infrastructure strategies when requesting collaboration. This will act as a step towards evidencing and assessing the benefits of cross-strategic authority collaboration.

Drafted amendment text:

Clause 22, page 29, line 8, at end insert- 

“(3A) In making a collaboration request under subsection (3), mayor A must have regard to any relevant— 

(a) strategy published by the Secretary of State in relation to infrastructure, including relating to spatial priorities and spatial tools; and 

(b) place-based business case.” 

Member’s explanatory statement 

This amendment would require a mayor for the area of a combined authority, when making a collaboration request under subsection (3), to have regard to relevant national infrastructure strategies, including relating to spatial priorities and spatial tools, and place-based business cases. 

This amendment should be mirrored at Clause 22, page 26, line 5, to also be applicable to CCAs.