Exeter Labour Group Leader and Leader of Exeter City Council, Cllr Phil Bialyk, has backed the vision set out by Andy Burnham, saying his commitment to devolution, housing, local growth and stronger communities reflects the ambitions Exeter has championed for many years.
Exeter Labour Group Leader and Leader of Exeter City Council, Cllr Phil Bialyk, has backed the vision set out by Andy Burnham, saying his commitment to devolution, housing, local growth and stronger communities reflects the ambitions Exeter has championed for many years
Andy Burnham has consistently argued that giving communities greater control over housing, transport, skills, economic development and public services is essential to building a stronger, fairer country. His commitment to meaningful devolution closely aligns with Exeter’s long standing ambition to see more decisions made locally, supported by the powers and resources needed to deliver for residents.
Cllr Bialyk said:
“Andy Burnham is speaking directly to the frustration felt in places like Exeter, that too many decisions are still made too far away from the people they affect.
“His commitment to devolution, council housing, skills, transport and stronger local economies speaks directly to Exeter’s ambitions. We have long argued that communities thrive when decisions are taken closer to the people who live and work there.
“That is exactly the principle behind Exeter’s proposals for local government reorganisation. Our vision is for a new unitary council centred on Exeter and the communities that naturally look to the city, including neighbouring towns, villages and parishes where people share jobs, education, healthcare, transport links, housing markets and local services every day.
“We believe local government should reflect how people actually live their lives, not administrative boundaries drawn decades ago. A stronger Exeter, working in partnership with the neighbouring towns, villages and parishes that naturally look to the city, would mean decisions being made closer to local people, with greater accountability, stronger partnerships and a sharper focus on delivering the homes, infrastructure, transport and public services our communities need to thrive.
“Exeter City Council’s Labour administration has already shown what local leadership can achieve, from building high quality council homes and supporting Citizens Advice Exeter to investing in communities and protecting the services residents rely on.
“Andy Burnham has shown that when places are trusted with greater powers, they can deliver better outcomes for residents. That is the opportunity we want for Exeter and the wider communities connected to our city, a model of devolution built on genuine local identity, shared prosperity and stronger democratic accountability.
“The future prosperity of Exeter is inseparable from the success of the wider area around it. People across Exeter and the neighbouring towns, villages and parishes deserve local government that reflects the communities they are part of, understands their aspirations and has the powers to deliver on them. That is the future Exeter City Council’s Labour Group has been making the case for, and it is why Andy Burnham’s vision resonates so strongly with us.”