WECA becomes WEMCA in December 2024 and ongoing political issues (updated title)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

However, their use of the WEMCA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about) name throughout, even before it was made public, makes it impossible to know whether December was the public launch of the name or a relaunch!

Thanks, stuving. It wasn't just me, wasting my valuable time trying to work out what happened, then. I'll expand the heading of this topic accordingly.

[stuving]

The launch of the WEMCA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about) branding was in December 2024, which I missed. That date agrees with what Wikipedia says. I don't think you need to feel any shame if you missed it completely!

[Chris from Nailsea]

Trawling back through previous posts here on the Coffee Shop forum (as I am inclined to do ), I discovered that one of my learned colleagues on the administrator team here (the one of the squirrel variety) originally noticed this transition, back in October 2023:

Dan Norris has made it clear that he doesn't like people calling the West of England Combined Authority 'WECA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about)'. The trouble is that you can't stop people calling things what they want to call them - I'm sure Mr Dyson doesn't like people referring to his hoovers as - well, hoovers, and Google would really prefer you not to google things as that damages their right to the trademark.

Anyway, I can't help but notice that WECA is now referring to itself as the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. So presumably, instead of not referring to it as WECA, we must not refer to it as WEMCA^» (West of England Mayoral Combined Authority - about)..?

I must apologise that I clearly wasn't paying attention, from the back of the classroom, when Red Squirrel pointed that out.

Relevant topics and posts have now been been merged here, in the interests of continuity and ease of future reference.

CfN^▸ (Chris from Nailsea, an administrator on this forum).

[Red Squirrel]

So the preferred handle is 'West of England MCA', or just 'the MCA'.

Not that this will bother the great majority of people who still don't know or care much what it is or where it is...

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Could North Somerset finally 'tie the knot' with Weca?

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North Somerset Council is seeking to join Weca with government backing

Will they, won't they? It's been the on-off politics relationship in the West of England that has bubbling along for years.

We are, of course, talking about North Somerset Council potentially joining the West of England Combined Authority - or Weca. They didn't join when Weca was formed, they couldn't join in 2020, but now 2026 looks like the pair could get "engaged". But when might there be wedding bells? And why does this matter? We explain all.

Time for a - complicated - local politics history lesson. Ready?

Weca, led by mayor Helen Godwin, was set up in 2017, involving Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset councils. They, along with North Somerset, used to form one county council - the County of Avon.

That controversial merger was created in 1974, creating a "greater Bristol" by breaking off southern parts of Gloucestershire and northern parts of Somerset. It was dissolved in 1996, creating four unitary authorities, before three of them got back together again to form Weca in 2017, with North Somerset voting against joining.

North Somerset did not join back then, but is now seeking to do so with government backing. The council already works closely with Weca, especially on transport, housing and economic growth.

In 2020, the question was popped. Unfortunately for North Somerset, the answer was no. But why was the 'marriage proposal' rebuffed?

The answer was then-Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, who said he would only support the move if there was a "clear financial offer". Rees vetoed the move and it all fell apart.

That brought a wave of criticism towards the now Labour peer with the leaders of North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils.

Tim Bowles was the West of England mayor at the time and joined in the criticism. "We are bitterly disappointed that residents right across the region are being refused the chance to potentially see hundreds of millions of pounds of additional investment brought to the west of England because the mayor of Bristol is putting party politics before doing the right thing for the region," Bowles and the three councils said. "Despite early agreements among all of the west of England's leaders that it is the right thing to do for the region, we regret that party politics has got in the way."

Rees said: "This was an ongoing internal debate and should have remained so. I support the expansion of Weca to include North Somerset but only when there is a clear financial offer that benefits Bristol and the West of England economy."

North Somerset Council has cited a number of reasons behind its move to join. But the most pressing one is that the government has asked all councils to become part of regional authorities. Council leaders say the move will "create further economic growth, reduce inequality for our residents, access new sources of funding and gain more local control".

And this time - importantly - the move is backed by the other three councils, and the West of England mayor Helen Godwin. She said: "During the election I was clear – with cross-party support across the West – that the door was open for North Somerset to join our regional authority."

At a full council meeting last September, members backed making a formal application to join.

Mike Bell, the Liberal Democrat leader of North Somerset, said he hoped it would "reduce inequality for our residents, access new sources of funding and gain more local control".

It is not yet clear when North Somerset will formally join Weca. It may have to wait until the next mayoral election in 2029.

And the latest step will happen on Tuesday when papers are due to be published - in advance of a Weca meeting at the end of January - about the government offer if North Somerset were to join.

[JayMac]

I'm still firmly of the opinion that the head honcho of this organisation should be called the Western Super Mayor. More so now that Woodspring (okay, North Somerset) is set to join the mayoralty.

If and when they do join should there be another name change for the authority? How about naming it after one of the rivers in the area - Avon...

[Chris from Nailsea]

... or, possibly, rename it after some other local North Somerset decrepit pier - Birnbeck, or Archer, just for example.

[Red Squirrel]

...or everyone could just grow up and call it 'Greater Bristol'! Imagine how much more clout it would have if people outside the area knew where it was. Actually it would help if people INSIDE the area knew where it was!

[johnneyw]

...or everyone could just grow up and call it 'Greater Bristol'! Imagine how much more clout it would have if people outside the area knew where it was. Actually it would help if people INSIDE the area knew where it was!

Being referred to as a part of "Greater Bristol" might generate some angry letters to the press from some of the citizens of Bath, no matter how accurate the description actually is.

[grahame]

https://www.facebook.com/atrebatia.uk/posts/1979636445640158

I still like the name "Atrebatia"

[Chris from Nailsea]

How about BABCA - Bristol And Bath Combined Authorities.

Ignore the indignant squeals from Weston - they've ignored the rest of us in North Somerset for many years now.

[eXPassenger]

https://www.facebook.com/atrebatia.uk/posts/1979636445640158

I still like the name "Atrebatia"

I am sure the good citizens of Wiltshire, such as yourself, would love being part of Greater Bristol.

[eightonedee]

I am with Atrebatia, too.

Sorry Bristolians, its capital is properly Silchester, an archaeological site near Mortimer, about 8 miles south-west of Reading. As the University of Reading led its excavation, and Reading Museum hold most of the relics, I think this gives Reading best claim to be its modern capital. Perhaps this might persuade His Majesty to make it a city, too!

[johnneyw]

How about BABCA - Bristol And Bath Combined Authority.

Ignore the indignant squeals from Weston - they've ignored the rest of us in North Somerset for many years now.

Or perhaps at least one of our esteemed members may like Bristol, Bath and Weston Super Mayoral Authority.

I also thought of "Bristol Unified Metropolitan Mayor Extended Region" but decided, on reflection, that it might not be a good idea.

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

'Weca needs to control its own bus network'

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Manchester's mayor Andy Burnham called for an "integrated transport system" in the city

Greater Manchester's mayor has called on West Country transport bosses to take control of their bus network.

Andy Burnham brought Manchester's buses back under public control in 2023 and believes the West of England Combined Authority (Weca), which manages public transport in Bristol and Bath and North East Somerset, could follow a similar transport model.

Burnham now has the power to manage bus routes and fares, which has resulted in a number of changes including the introduction of the "hopper fare", where a single fare is valid on most buses for an hour.

Helen Godwin, Weca mayor, said the authority is "looking carefully at all of the options for how to take greater control of our buses". Unlike Greater Manchester, Weca does not have revenue-raising power through council tax, as that is instead raised by local authorities.

"The revenue is important because once you raise the money to take control, you control the money," Burnham said. He spoke of Liverpool and South Yorkshire, which have recently taken steps to take back control of their own bus networks, something Greater Manchester has already achieved.

He said he wants to support the Weca mayor in doing the same, adding there is "a lot of collaboration that goes on between mayors".

"She (Godwin) is a close friend and she's doing a great job," he said. "I'm going to help Helen all the way on this because I know she wants to get there. I realise it's more difficult here because of the situation she inherits, but honestly I think a city like Bristol needs to be in control of its own transport," he added.

Ideas for a mass transit system have been floated around for years.

Godwin said franchising is "not a quick or cheap fix".

"As Andy knows it takes years and has meant an extra charge on people's council tax bills - which is not something we want to rush into. It's true that what's right for somewhere else may not always be the best model for the West of England, which is much more rural than Greater Manchester.

"More immediately, we're already working to quickly improve our bus network, as we secure more investment and make the most of devolution to catch up with other regions," she added.