Rural communities to have greater say in local decision-making

The government’s English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which is currently going through Parliament, will deliver on its promise to expand the number of mayors across England. It aims to transfer more powers and decision-making to local government and will increase mayoral powers. ‘Strategic authorities’ will be led by mayors with these increased powers, devolving powers away from Westminster. 

‘Rural affairs’ was not initially listed as a core competency for the new mayors, an oversight that Liberal Democrat Peer Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville sought to correct through her amendment, Lords Amendment 2. 

The NFU lobbied MPs to back the amendment tabled by Baroness Bakewell and supported by the House of Lords. The change means that mayors will be able to appoint Rural Commissioners, giving rural communities across England a clear voice and ensuring they are represented in mayoral decisions.

Amendment pushed through

When the Bill was first returned to the House of Commons, the government rejected the amendment and whipped Labour MPs to vote against it, stating that the existing competencies of the new strategic authorities already covered rural affairs. 

The House of Lords, however, refused to back down and insisted on its amendment, setting the stage for a showdown with the government. 

Following lobbying from the NFU and other stakeholders, the government backed down and accepted Lords Amendment 2. The government did add its own small change, arguing that the competency should be ‘rural affairs and coastal communities’. This is in addition to key responsibilities covering transport, housing and economic development.

The Lords sat late into the night and accepted the position put forward by the government. 

Rural communities empowered

The NFU has welcomed the news that the amendment has been passed, with the Bill receiving Royal Assent today.

It will help ensure rural perspectives are built into discussions on mayoral priorities and projects from the start, rather than considered as an afterthought. Rural communities will now be able to fully engage with the devolution process. 

The NFU is grateful to Baroness Bakewell for tabling and insisting on her amendment, and thanks her and the government for coming to an agreement.