‘I am concerned by reports that significant positions on the future of devolution in Gloucestershire are being taken without proper consultation’
Labour MP Matt Bishop said all credible devolution options for Gloucestershire should be properly considered and subject to meaningful consultation with the Forest of Dean’s identity being protected. (Image: Carmelo Garcia/House of Commons)
A Gloucestershire MP has called for all “credible” devolution options to be considered amid concerns over an “appalling lack of transparency” from council chiefs.
Local government is being reorganised in the county and the previously announced preferred option is for a single council to replace the county council and six districts.
The current process has been paused but once complete it is expected that new strategic partnerships would be created to drive regional growth and coordinate public services such as transport.
This could see Gloucestershire join with the Bristol-centric West of England Combined Authority (WECA) or form part of new authorities with neighbouring counties such as Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire.
The current leadership of most councils in the county are in favour of joining WECA. However, there is concern in the Forest of Dean that councillors have not been consulted or had a say on the matter.
Elsewhere, in Tewkesbury the borough council discussed the issue and called for councils to engage in dialogue with the counties to the north of Gloucestershire as well as WECA.
The Green Party’s leader in Coleford narrowly survived a vote of no-confidence earlier this year amid frustration over the handling of the now axed local plan.
A total of 19 councillors voted against the motion, 18 in favour and there was one abstention.(Image: Carmelo Garcia)
And now frustration is growing again among opposition councillors who were astounded to find out the council’s leadership had written to ministers saying they favour joining WECA without consulting them.
The council had voted that they did not support any of the local government reorganisation (LGR) options for the Forest of Dean during a debate on the options for Gloucestershire.
And they say they are now shocked to discover leaders had suggested the council prefer to join WECA as part of devolution.
Former council leader Tim Gwilliam (Progressive Independents, Berry Hill) said he found the timing unfortunate given the council’s scrutiny committee’s hope to look into other options for local government reorganisation in Gloucestershire during the current pause.
Former council leader (Tim Gwilliam Progressive Independents, Berry Hill)
He also said the council has not expressed a view on which strategic authority partner would be best for the Forest of Dean.
“I’m amazed that leaders can make such a massive difference without consultation at least in the form of a formal cabinet,” he said.
“I’m astounded. There’s been an awful lot of LGR email traffic since the Forest of Dean scrutiny committee decided to use the pause to look into alternatives for devolution.”
Even council chair was unaware
The council’s chairman Di Martin (L, Cinderford East) was also among those who knew nothing about it.
She said the announcement “came as a considerable shock due to the current pause on local government reorganisation”.
Forest of Dean District Council chair Di Martin(Image: FoDDC)
“No-one knew,” she said. “I was at a meeting where I found out last week and there were Green members who didn’t know.
“The lack of communication and transparency is appalling. I was shocked the ‘council’ had voiced a view as I am chairman of the council and I didn’t know.
“The council didn’t support any option.”
Labour MP Matt Bishop believes all credible options should be properly considered and subject to meaningful consultation with the Forest of Dean’s identity being protected.
“I am concerned by reports that significant positions on the future of devolution in Gloucestershire are being taken without proper consultation with councillors, communities and other elected representatives across the county,” he said.
“This is much bigger than any one council or political party. Decisions about the future governance of Gloucestershire will affect our communities for generations and must not be made behind closed doors by a small number of people.
Matt Bishop is the Labour MP for the Forest of Dean(Image: Matt Bishop)
“All credible options should be properly considered, openly discussed and subject to meaningful consultation, with the interests and identity of the Forest of Dean protected throughout.”
Council leader Adrian Birch (G, Tidenham) said the Forest of Dean District Council opposed the local government reorganisation options in November last year.
“By voting for ‘none of the above,’ favouring retention of the two-tier system with stronger county and district collaboration,” he said.
“After The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) indicated its preference for a single county-wide authority in July 2026, this council has continued to work constructively with our Local Government partners across Gloucestershire for the benefit of our district.
Forest of Dean District Council leader Adrian Birch (front right) at a previous meeting in Coleford.(Image: Carmelo Garcia)
“The Gloucestershire LGR submission also supported joining the West of England Combined Authority (WECA). Information on these proposals has been publicly available for several months, in addition to which multiple councillor briefings providing further explanation have been held.
“The recent letter to the minister sent on behalf of the majority of Gloucestershire Councils followed a recent meeting between officers and civil servants. After which it was decided that we should reaffirm our desire to initially establish a Gloucestershire Foundation Strategic Authority (FSA) with the longer-term objective of joining WECA.
“I believe that establishing an FSA is the best opportunity we have of accessing public funds which have been distributed to strategic authorities and denied to district and county councils. Public funds which could benefit our residents here in the Forest of Dean.
“This position is not new and is in line with our previous joint submission to the Government in March of this year.
“I remain committed to working with all members of this council in the interests of the Forest of Dean and note that the decisions on LGR and devolution rest with MHCLG.”