Luton’s Council leader has warned the town could miss out on vital investment and powers unless four local authorities agree to work together on a proposed regional devolution deal.
Cllr Amjid Ali has joined his counterpart in Milton Keynes in urging Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire councils to back a proposed Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) strategic authority.
The Government has told the four councils that BLMK is the only option it will consider taking forward for the region, with all four authorities asked to confirm by Monday, 26 October whether they want to proceed.
However, Bedford and Central Bedfordshire have yet to agree to the proposed geographical area, putting the plans at risk.
Cllr Ali said: “The government has made its position clear: BLMK is the only devolution area it will consider taking forward for our region. We have a very short window to keep this opportunity alive, and we cannot afford to let it slip away.
“This would unlock vital investment and give us greater influence over the decisions that shape our future, creating opportunities for residents and businesses across all four areas. If we fail to move forward now, we risk missing out on funding and powers that could make a real difference to people’s lives, with no guarantee of when a comparable opportunity might come again.
“I urge all our colleagues to work with us to keep this moving. We do not need to have every detail agreed now, but we do need to recognise what is at stake and be prepared to take the next steps together.”
The proposed authority would give the region greater local influence over areas including transport, skills and investment. The government has confirmed it would receive an investment fund and money to establish the capacity needed to operate.
Analysis by consultants Metro Dynamics suggests a BLMK devolution framework could unlock around £186million a year in funding for the region.
The consultants also estimate that returning to pre-pandemic rates of economic growth could add £52billion to the BLMK economy by 2035. This is a projection rather than a guaranteed outcome.
The proposed partnership could bring together major developments and economic assets across the region, including Luton Airport, the proposed Universal UK development near Bedford, growth in Milton Keynes East and the proposed new town at Tempsford in Central Bedfordshire.
Milton Keynes City Council leader Councillor Jane Carr said: “The government has made its position clear: BLMK is the only devolution proposal being considered for our region. This is a major opportunity to bring new investment, powers and decision-making closer to our communities.
“We can either come together and shape our own future, or risk watching other areas move ahead while we miss out. The economic case is compelling, the benefits are clear, and the cost of standing still could be enormous.
“Milton Keynes, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton have the ambition, talent and potential to achieve far more together than we can alone. I urge all leaders to put residents first, seize this opportunity and work together to secure the investment and influence our region deserves.”
The four councils have previously taken different positions on the proposed boundaries. In September, Conservative group leaders from councils across the area and neighbouring Northamptonshire called for the government to reconsider the proposed devolution boundaries, arguing that BLMK would fall short of the government’s population benchmark for a mayoral strategic authority.
Luton Council backed the BLMK footprint in August, when Labour were in charge of the authority, saying it offered an opportunity to connect the region’s economic assets, investment and skills provision.
The latest appeal from Luton and Milton Keynes comes ahead of the government’s 26 October deadline for the four authorities to indicate whether they are prepared to proceed.
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