It’s been nearly nine years since the creation of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). This authority is made up of the councils of Bristol City, Bath and North East Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.
Since its creation, however, a question has arisen about whether there will be an Avon County reunion, as the fourth area of the controversial, former council, North Somerset, has declined to join the Unitary Authority.
But this is about to change as, on 16 September 2025, North Somerset Council has started the year long process to join WECA.
In the meeting, the council leader said that “devolution, whatever our views about it might be, is clearly the policy priority of both this government and the previous government … It is better for us to engage in this process and try and shape it to suit North Somerset and the needs and priorities of North Somerset rather than having it forced upon us.”
This point referred to the Labour Government’s devolution policy, which shows a preference for the unitary mayoral model, having created two more authorities in time for the 2025 local elections.
North Somerset already works with WECA in a few departments, such as public transport, so it’s not too big a leap for the area to be incorporated into WECA.
A return to County Avon?
However – and this a big ‘however’ – many people do not want North Somerset to be part of the West of England Combined Authority. They are not keen on the idea of a return to the days of the Avon County Council.
I’ve called this failed 1970s experiment controversial several times in previous articles, but never explained why. So, in brief:
The Avon County Council was created in 1974 under the Local Government Act of 1972. This act looked to shake up the county borders as we knew them to instead be more reflective of those cities, such as Birmingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, and, yes, Bristol, that spread across several county borders.
Avon County was created wholesale from the County of Bristol with existing parts of neighbouring Somerset and Gloucestershire, effectively creating a Greater Bristol Area.
This is, in part, why it was so controversial. The areas outside of the city felt that they were being underfunded, their voices ignored and left behind in favour of the much more populous and local economic powerhouse that is Bristol.
Bristolians weren’t fans of the change either as they felt their voices and concerns were not being heard and funds were being allocated elsewhere.
There was also a sense, for Bristolians, and for areas outside the city, that new identities were being forced on both regions which could destroy the distinct and proudly possessed identities they already had.
Former Mayor, Marvin Rees even blocked the move in 2020, saying that he’d include North Somerset when “there is a clear financial offer that benefits Bristol and the West of England economy”.
A bitter row in North Somerset
While a unitary authority operates differently from a full council set up, this hasn’t stopped people with long memories speaking out about this change.
David Shopland, councillor for Clevedon East, said at the meeting, “having fought to destroy Avon Council and all that it stood for, I am not prepared to support in any way the forming of a Greater Bristol authority –— for that is what is behind this.”
Caritas Charles of Portishead East, added that “It feels like we are being asked to rubber-stamp decisions that have already been made in London.”
It is estimated that it will cost North Somerset Council £290,000 to join WECA. Lib Dem Leader Mike Bell has written to Westminster twice about helping cover these costs.
Despite these issues, the motion to join was passed with only eight votes going against the move.
However, it should be noted that being part of WECA will mean that the council does have access to more funding and that where that money goes is decided by the council, not WECA.
WECA’s powers are in public transport, planning, and business support.
Current Mayor, Helen Godwin, said on the subject, “the door was open for North Somerset to join our regional authority”.
“This week’s council meeting in Weston-Super-Mare is a really welcome first step in that direction,” she said.
I interviewed Godwin shortly before her successful election where she answered many concerns people have about the changes.
The next step now is an eight week consultation with both North Somerset and the four leaders in WECA before getting a final vote at North Somerset Council and parliamentary approval for North Somerset to become a member. This means that we might have to wait for the result until after the next mayoral election in 2029.
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