Introduction and Summary

Assembly North and Assembly South debated whether it would be good to make any changes in how their local areas are governed.

To help the participants think about what changes are possible, the papers in this set outline three reform options.

  1. The first paper sets out the option of a Devolution Deal – an agreement between the government and the local councils in an area.
  2. The second paper sets out the option of a Regional Assembly – an elected body who make decisions about issues across a wider geographical area.
  3. The third paper sets out the option of Decentralisation to Local Neighbourhoods – bringing local government closer to the people.

These three options are not fixed packages from which the participants had to choose. The Assembly could be creative and recommend something completely different or a combination of these different proposals.

These papers are intended just to help begin thinking about what might be possible.

Reform Options