At today's meeting of the full County Council, Deputy Leader Peter Martin tabled a successful motion calling on the Government to 'take the opportunity now for a radical English Devolution settlement devolving power to both the Counties and the Cities of England.'

Full text of the motion below.

ITEM 8(ii)

Mr Peter Martin (Godalming South, Milford and Witley) to move under Standing Order 11 as follows:

‘This Council welcomes the statement made by the Prime Minister following the No vote in the Scottish Referendum and in particular welcomes the formation of a Cabinet sub-committee to examine English constitutional change and the continuing commitment that “power can and must be devolved more locally.'

This Council commends the One Place, One Budget initiative taken by the County Councils Network and chaired by the Leader of Surrey County Council, which creates an ambitious vision for public services to be more closely controlled by local people. This envisages a new devolution settlement between Whitehall and the Counties to move decisions about how all local services are delivered closer to the people affected by those decisions. This would deliver better public services, reverse decades of centralisation and revitalise UK democracy.

This Council urges the Government to take the opportunity now for a radical English Devolution settlement devolving power to both the Counties and Cities of England.'