‘We’re adrift’ – Shropshire turns to Midlands neighbours for planning strategy

Shropshire Council is eyeing up a potential link-up with four neighbouring authorities in response to government plans to form a regional development strategy for the region.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government launched a consultation on proposed geographic boundaries for its Spatial Development Strategies earlier this year, generally aligning with combined authority boundaries for established mayoral regions, or areas planned for devolution.

The government says its SDS’s will allow regions to plan for future development on a “larger than local scale” by creating cross-boundary targets for growth, although local plans would continue to allow planning authorities to decide on the detailed location of developments in their respective areas.

While the task is somewhat easier for mayoral authorities, the West and East Midlands combined authorities both started work on their plans last year, the picture is murkier for councils who are not part of a wider regional structure – complicated further by a swathe of government-mandated local government reorganisation.

A consultation published in February identified 11 local authority areas not included in a mayoral authority, or as part of a future devolution arrangement, including Cornwall and a cluster of counties in the south-west Midlands, with the government encouraging those areas to put forward their own ideas for how an SDS region might be formed.

Now, Shropshire says a link up with neighbouring Telford & Wrekin, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire could provide a solution, ahead of a looming deadline of 26 March for authorities to respond.

A report put to cabinet suggested several options, including a partnership with various combinations of neighbouring local authorities.

In a cabinet meeting today (Wednesday, 11 March), Shropshire Council leader Cllr Heather Kidd said the authority was looking for willing partners for a potential SDS, after being given the cold shoulder by Cheshire West and Staffordshire.

“We have a short period of time, we have been talking on several occasions with Telford & Wrekin who are in the same boat as us,” she said.

“We need partners who want to work with us and Staffordshire has already opted to work just with Stoke at the present time, so we’re looking at the best possible economic outcome.

“Cheshire West are going north – they do not wish to work with us at all. That leaves us adrift. Staffordshire is undergoing unitary [reorganisation] and they have not decided how many unitaries they’re going to have. It may be one, it may be four, it may be two, it may be five – all of those are in the melting pot.

“We have to get the best out of it we can now, and it’s not ideal… I would prefer to be doing this in two years time.”

A defensive response from neighbouring Telford & Wrekin highlighted the political challenges of cross-boundary working between authorities, although it said it remained open to working with other authorities when it was in the interests of its residents to do so.

Telford has traditionally bristled at suggestions of closer ties between the two authorities, having gained independence from Shropshire as a unitary authority in 1998.

“Retaining our independence and identity as Telford and Wrekin is non-negotiable and we are quite clear that any future moves, whether they be devolution, partnerships or anything else must deliver clear benefits for our residents,” said Cllr Lee Carter, leader of the council.

“This approach formed the basis for our objection to the merger of Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Health Board with Staffordshire and Stoke & Trent which we were not consulted on and which we struggle to see the direct benefits for our residents.

“We are carefully considering our position before providing any response to this Government consultation which we see purely as a request for information about development of the local economy with neighbouring authorities.”

Herefordshire Council said it was “aware of the report” being considered by Shropshire Council and was in discussions with neighbouring authorities regarding future arrangements.

Telford will work up its own response in due course, with a cabinet meeting pencilled in for 26 March – the consultation deadline.

Worcestershire did not respond to a request for comment.