Hackney joins east London councils calling for devolution

Joint bid: Councils in east London have met to discuss devolution. Photograph: Phillip Capper (creative commons)

Hackney could soon have devolved powers akin to those in Scotland, if leaders of borough councils have their way.

Nine east London councils have set out a business plan aimed at devolving more power to local authorities to “help unlock the unrivalled growth potential of the region”.

The plans were discussed at a conference called ‘Local London: Driving Growth through Devolution’ which took place at Stratford Old Town Hall.

Jules Pipe, Mayor of Hackney, joined council leaders from Barking and Dagenham, Enfield, Greenwich, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest to discuss the plans.

“Together, the nine boroughs have a population of more than 2.5 million,” the borough leaders said in a joint statement. “This population is growing at a rate above twice the estimate for England. The opportunity for business growth, jobs and housing development across the region is unparalleled.”

Mayor Pipe said that Whitehall’s “one-size-fits-all approach” was “failing Londoners”. He said: “Devolution and reforming the way public services are delivered are essential to ensure that London remains a great place to live and work.

“Residents want us to tackle the issues that matter to them, such as housing, transport and school places. They want the opportunity to succeed in the jobs market, and employers want people with the right skills so their businesses can grow.

“Whitehall’s ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach is failing Londoners and threatening their future quality of life. Devolution will instead enable boroughs to make a difference on these key issues, tailoring services to local needs and being accountable for the results.”

Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham said: “This conference has been a resounding success and demonstrates our boroughs joint commitment to releasing the true potential of this combined area. Devolution is clearly an important subject for these councils and today’s discussions have revealed exactly why it is necessary.”