Regional authority taken out of special measures

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) is no longer under special measures, the government has confirmed.

It had been put on alert in March 2024 after external auditors warned of a "sense of division".

Since then the authority, which covers Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, and South Gloucestershire, has been monitored by the government and has followed a plan for improvement.

Labour MP Dan Norris, who currently also serves as the WECA mayor, said the authority had "rolled up its sleeves to get on with people's priorities".

Norris, who is set to step down from his mayoral role this spring, added that he was "grateful to officers and partners for their ongoing hard work for residents and businesses across the West of England".

In a letter published on Wednesday, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) informed WECA chief executive, Stephen Peacock, that the improvement notice it issued a year ago was expiring and would not be renewed.

"Whilst we will not be renewing the notice, we expect to see the progress made by the combined authority and all constituent members fully embedded and sustained," the letter said.

A spokesperson for the department said WECA has "made important improvements" thanks to the support of an independent panel, adding it is "vital that lessons are learned and progress continues to be made".

"Local leaders must deliver high standards and value for taxpayer money to their communities which is why the department maintains close engagement with the authority to monitor progress and sustained improvement," they added.

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